http://www.jneuroengrehab.com/content/11/1/92/abstract
Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation 2014, 11:92
doi:10.1186/1743-0003-11-92
Published: 2 June 2014
Published: 2 June 2014
Abstract (provisional)
Background
Intensive task specific training early after stroke may enhance beneficial neuroplasticity
and functional recovery. Impaired gait after hemiparetic stroke remains a challenge
that may be approached early after stroke by use of novel technology. The aim of the
study was to investigate the safety and feasibility of the exoskeleton Hybrid Assistive
Limb (HAL) for intensive gait training as part of a regular inpatient rehabilitation
program for hemiparetic patients with severely impaired gait early after stroke.
Methods
Eligible were patients until 7 weeks after hemiparetic stroke. Training with HAL was
performed 5 days per week by the autonomous and/or the voluntary control mode offered
by the system. The study protocol covered safety and feasibility issues and aspects
on motor function, gait performance according to the 10 Meter Walking Test (10MWT)
and Functional Ambulation Categories (FAC), and activity performance.
Results
Eight patients completed the study. Median time from stroke to inclusion was 35 days
(range 6 to 46). Training started by use of the autonomous HAL mode in all and later
switched to the voluntary mode in all but one and required one or two physiotherapists.
Number of training sessions ranged from 6 to 31 (median 17) and walking time per session
was around 25 minutes. The training was well tolerated and no serious adverse events
occurred. All patients improved their walking ability during the training period,
as reflected by the 10MWT (from 111.5 to 40 seconds in mean) and the FAC (from 0 to
1.5 score in median).
Conclusions
The HAL system enables intensive training of gait in hemiparetic patients with severely
impaired gait function early after stroke. The system is safe when used as part of
an inpatient rehabilitation program for these patients by experienced physiotherapists.
The complete article is available as a provisional PDF. The fully formatted PDF and HTML versions are in production.
Other possibilities:
A TED talk by Eythor Bender of Berkeley Bionics on HULC and eLEGS
O maybe one of these three.
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