Robot Assisted Gait Training in Persons With a Spinal Cord Injury

In the researchers' words

Over the past decade, RAGT has emerged as a promising method for improving ambulation after spinal cord injury (SCI). Early reports of this therapy were very promising, yet a recent study suggested that even though RAGT may improve locomotor ability in the acute SCI population, it appears less functional to more conventional forms of ambulation such as wheelchair propulsion. What most of these studies have neglected to address, however, is the efficacy of RAGT as a therapeutic exercise intervention for the SCI population. Indeed, persons with SCI lead by definition a sedentary lifestyle. This reduced activity can lead to a variety of secondary health complications, including an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, spasticity, altered muscle composition and reduced joint range of motion (ROM), increased risk for pressure sores, reduced bone mineral density, increased risk for osteoporosis, and bladder and bowel dysfunction. In addition, psychological components such as body image, self-esteem, self-efficacy, psychological well-being and quality of life in general may be affected. Consequently, before RAGT is dismissed as an expensive but perhaps not superior alternative to conventional rehabilitation strategies after SCI, the potential effect of this therapy on a variety of health-related outcomes needs to be considered, and the potential physiological and psychological…