The Gait Restorative Effects of Robotic-Assisted Gait Training for Individuals with Neurodegenerative Disease: A Review

Abstract

Background : Neurodegenerative diseases and disorders present with a wide range of clinical and neuropathological symptoms caused by progressive neuronal dysfunction and eventual neuronal death. As individuals with neurodegenerative diseases experience gradual sensory, motor, and cognitive debilitation, the maintenance and recovery of a functional gait holds physiological, psychological, and financial importance. Developments in robotically-aided therapies are becoming more commonly used as a therapeutic tool for the improvement of gait characteristics and overall motor function for individuals with various gait impairments. To date, studies examining the effects of robotic-assisted gait training (RAGT) as treatment for neurodegenerative diseases, have only been performed in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Purpose : The purpose of this review is to summarize and show trends to the efficacy of RAGT as a gait restorative and preservative modality for individuals with these neurodegenerative diseases including MS, PD, and PSP. Results : The overall trends reported by these reviewed studies show that RAGT may be an effective therapy for producing significant improvements in multiple gait characteristics including balance, walking speed, endurance, leg strength, gait safety, and motor function for individuals with neurodegenerative disease. Conclusion : The studies in this review suggest that RAGT therapies may be an effective substitute for, or addition to, present conventional therapies for individuals with neurodegenerative disease, however the long-term effects of this therapy are still not known for these individuals.