Exoskeletal-assisted walking during acute inpatient rehabilitation leads to motor and functional improvement in persons with spinal cord injury: A pilot study

Model System:

SCI

Reference Type:

Journal article

Accession No.:

J83016

Journal:

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Year, Volume, Issue, Page(s):

2020 , , ,

Publication Website:

Abstract:

Study explored the effects of incorporating exoskeletal-assisted walking (EAW) into spinal cord injury (SCI) acute inpatient rehabilitation (AIR) on facilitating functional and motor recovery when compared with standard of care AIR. Ten acute inpatient participants with SCI who were eligible for locomotor training were enrolled in the intervention group (AIR with EAW). Twenty inpatients with SCI were identified as matched controls by reviewing an AIR database, the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation, by an individual blinded to the study. Both groups were matched based on etiology, paraplegia/tetraplegia, completeness of injury, age, and sex. The primary outcome measure was the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score. Secondary outcomes included the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury Upper Extremity Motor Score and Lower Extremity Motor Score (LEMS) and EAW session results, including adverse events, walking time, and steps. Results showed changes from admission to discharge LEMS and FIM scores were significantly greater in the intervention group (LEMS change: 14.3; FIM change: 37.8) compared with the control group (LEMS change: 4.6; FIM change: 26.5). One adverse event (minor skin abrasion) occurred during 42 walking sessions. Participants on average achieved 31.5 minutes of up time and 18.2 minutes of walk time with 456 steps in one EAW session. AIR with incorporated EAW has the potential to facilitate functional and motor recovery compared with AIR without EAW.

Author(s):