Editor: Akhmetova Aigerim
Author: Aldiyarbek Nurlan
Acquired brain injury often leads to hemiparesis, causing significant deficits in balance and gait, which adversely affect functional mobility and participation in daily activities. Gait training using robotic exoskeletons offers an option for motor rehabilitation in people with hemiparesis.
The participants included seven people (ages 13 to 28) with acquired traumatic brain injury (LPI) and hemiparesis, as well as one healthy control group. The ABI group included people with traumatic brain injury as a result of hypoxia, trauma and stroke. All participants underwent 12 45-minute sessions of repetitive high-dose gait training in a robotic exoskeleton over a 4-week period. The gait training was performed by a licensed physical therapist under the direction of a member of the research team.
At the end of the 4-week training, the participants switched to a more casual gait, Dr. Karunakaran said, "including improved load, longer stride length and faster walking speed." Although the results are promising, Dr. Nolan acknowledged the limitations of the study, including the small sample size and lack of a control group: "Further research is needed to confirm the training effect in this age group using ABI, the optimal dosage for the training protocol, and the sustainability of functional improvements."
Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/12/201214164315.htm
