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ABSTRACT: Study design
Pre-post intervention.Objective
To explore the potential effect of exoskeletal-assisted walking (EAW) on seated balance for persons with chronic motor complete spinal cord injury (SCI).Setting
A SCI research center.Methods
Eight participants who were over 18 years of age with chronic SCI and used a wheelchair for mobility were enrolled. Seven able-bodied participants were used for normal seated balance comparative values. Participants with chronic SCI received supervised EAW training using a powered exoskeleton (ReWalkTM) for a median 30 sessions (range from 7 to 90 sessions). Before and after EAW training, seated balance testing outcomes were collected using computerized dynamic posturography, providing measurements of endpoint excursion (EPE), maximal excursion (MXE), and directional control (DCL). Modified functional reach test (MFRT) and the sub-scales of physical functioning and role limitations due to physical health from the Short Form (36) Health Survey (SF-36) were used to identify changes in functional activities.Results
After EAW training, seated balance significantly improved in total-direction EPE and MXE (P < 0.01 and P < 0.017 respectively). The results of MFRT and sub-scales of physical functioning and role limitations due to physical health improved after EAW training but were not statistically significant.Conclusions
EAW training may have the potential to improve seated balance for persons with chronic motor complete SCI. Due to the limitations of the study, such as small sample size and lack of a control group, further studies are needed to clarify the effect of improving seated balance through EAW training.
SUBMITTER: Tsai CY
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7955046 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Tsai Chung-Ying CY Asselin Pierre K PK Hong Eunkyoung E Knezevic Steven S Kornfeld Stephen D SD Harel Noam Y NY Spungen Ann M AM
Spinal cord series and cases 20210312 1
<h4>Study design</h4>Pre-post intervention.<h4>Objective</h4>To explore the potential effect of exoskeletal-assisted walking (EAW) on seated balance for persons with chronic motor complete spinal cord injury (SCI).<h4>Setting</h4>A SCI research center.<h4>Methods</h4>Eight participants who were over 18 years of age with chronic SCI and used a wheelchair for mobility were enrolled. Seven able-bodied participants were used for normal seated balance comparative values. Participants with chronic SCI ...[more]