Open AccessKinetic Gait Changes after Robotic Exoskeleton Training in Adolescents and Young Adults with Acquired Brain Injury
Author(s) -
Kiran K. Karunakaran,
Naphtaly Ehrenberg,
JenFu Cheng,
Katherine Bentley,
Karen J. Nolan
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
applied bionics and biomechanics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.397
H-Index - 23
eISSN - 1754-2103
pISSN - 1176-2322
DOI - 10.1155/2020/8845772
Subject(s) - physical medicine and rehabilitation , gait , exoskeleton , balance (ability) , rehabilitation , gait training , medicine , powered exoskeleton , physical therapy , neurorehabilitation , psychology
Background Acquired brain injury (ABI) is one of the leading causes of motor deficits in children and adults and often results in motor control and balance impairments. Motor deficits include abnormal loading and unloading, increased double support time, decreased walking speed, control, and coordination. These deficits lead to diminished functional ambulation and reduced quality of life. Robotic exoskeletons (RE) for motor rehabilitation can provide the user with consistent, symmetrical, goal-directed repetition of movement, as well as balance and stability.Purpose The goal of this preliminary prospective before and after study is to evaluate the therapeutic effect of RE training on the loading/unloading and spatial-temporal characteristics in adolescents and young adults with chronic ABI.Method Seven participants diagnosed with ABI between the ages of 14 and 27 years participated in the study. All participants received twelve 45 minute sessions of RE gait training. The bilateral loading (linearity of loading and rate of loading), speed, step length, swing time, stance time, and total time were collected using Zeno™ walkway (ProtoKinetics, Havertown, PA, USA) before and after RE training.Results Results from the study showed improved step length, speed, and an overall progression towards healthy bilateral loading, with linearity of loading showing a significant therapeutic effect ( p < 0.05).Conclusion These preliminary results suggest that high dose, repetitive, consistent gait training using RE has the potential to induce recovery of function in adolescents and young adults diagnosed with ABI.