Effect of Lokomat® Robotic Rehabilitation on Balance, Postural Control, and Functional Independence in Subacute and Chronic Stroke Patients: A Quasi-Experimental Study

 My doctor at the time didn't think much of the Lokomat but I considered it great since it was the only thing that could counteract my spasticity. I hated body weight supported treadmill training, it was impossible to walk in those since I needed my bodyweight to at least reduce some of the spasticity. Ask your doctor about this.

It solved none of my walking problems;

1. No pushoff
2. No heel-to-toe rolloff
3. No help in curing spasticity
4. Did nothing to fix my 10 degree leftward angle of my left foot. 
5. Did nothing to get a free-swinging lower leg

Effect of Lokomat® Robotic Rehabilitation on Balance, Postural Control, and Functional Independence in Subacute and Chronic Stroke Patients: A Quasi-Experimental Study

by 

Marina Esther Cabrera-Brito

 1,2,

María del Carmen Carcelén-Fraile

 3,*,

Agustín Aibar-Almazán

 1,

Fidel Hita-Contreras

 1,

Paulino Vico-Rodríguez

 4,

Marta Cano-Orihuela

 4 and

Yolanda Castellote-Caballero

 4

1

Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Jaén, 23007 Jaén, Spain

2

Island Rehabilitation Institute, S.L. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain

3

Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Atlántico Medio, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain

4

Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Atlántico Medio, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain

*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Med. Sci. 2025, 13(3), 157; https://doi.org/10.3390/medsci13030157

Submission received: 20 July 2025 / Revised: 20 August 2025 / Accepted: 26 August 2025 / Published: 28 August 2025

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Abstract

Background/Objectives: Balance, postural control, and functional independence are essential components for the autonomy of people with neurological conditions. Robotic technologies such as the Lokomat® have emerged as promising tools in rehabilitation, but their effectiveness when integrated into functional programs requires further evidence. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of an intensive robotic intervention on these three functional variables. 

Methods: A single-group, quasi-experimental pretest–posttest study was conducted with 136 participants who received a robotic rehabilitation intervention using the Lokomat® device, and focused on functional tasks over several weeks. Balance (using the Berg scale), postural control (using the PASS), and functional independence (using the Barthel index) were assessed, comparing pre- and post-intervention results using parametric and non-parametric tests. 

Results: The results showed statistically significant improvements in all three variables after the intervention. The mean Berg score increased from 11.76 to 21.91 points (p < 0.001), postural control increased from 15.53 to 21.90 points (p < 0.001), and the Barthel index increased from 24.71 to 41.76 points (p < 0.001). In all cases, the effect sizes were large (d > 0.90). 

Conclusions: A rehabilitation program including intensive, task-oriented Lokomat® training was associated with improvements in balance, postural control, and functional independence. Given the single-group design without a control arm, these findings reflect associations and do not establish causality.

Keywords: 

robotic rehabilitation; balance; postural control; functional independence; neurorehabilitation; neurological disorders