Article

The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the feasibility of high-speed gait
training with an exoskeleton robot hybrid assistive limb (HAL) in patients with
chronic stroke, and to examine the efficacy of eight sessions (8 weeks) of gait
training with a HAL compared with conventional physical therapy. Eighteen
patients with chronic stroke were included in this study (nine each in the HAL
and control groups). The HAL group underwent high-speed gait training with the
HAL once a week for 8 weeks (20 min/session). The control group underwent
conventional physical therapy for gait disturbance. Outcome measures were walking
speed, number of steps, and cadence during a 10 m walking test, a timed up and go
test, a functional reach test, and the Berg Balance Scale. Assessments were
performed in the absence of the HAL before training and after the fourth and
eighth training sessions. All patients in the HAL group completed the high-speed
gait training without adverse events. The HAL group improved significantly in
walking speed (55.9% increase, P<0.001), number of steps (17.6% decrease,
P<0.01), and cadence (32.8% increase, P<0.001) during the 10 m walking test. The
patients also exhibited significant improvements in the timed up and go test, the
functional reach test, and the Berg Balance Scale after HAL training (P<0.01 in
all). No statistical time-dependent changes were observed in any parameter in the
control group. For chronic stroke patients, high-speed gait training with a HAL
appears to be feasible and effective in improving gait and balance dysfunction
despite the limitations of this nonrandomized pilot study.

Langue : ANGLAIS