Robot-aided gait training (RAGT) has been implemented to provide patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) with a physiological limb activation during gait, cognitive engagement, and an appropriate stimulation of peripheral receptors, which are essential to entrain neuroplasticity mechanisms supporting functional recovery. We aimed at assessing whether RAGT by means of an end-effector device equipped with body weight support could improve functional ambulation in patients with subacute, motor incomplete SCI. In this pilot study, 15 patients were provided with six RAGT sessions per week for eight consecutive weeks. The outcome measures were muscle strength, ambulation, going upstairs, and disease burden. Furthermore, we estimated the activation patterns of lower limb muscles during RAGT by means of surface electromyography and the resting state networks’ functional connectivity (RSN-FC) before and after RAGT. Patients achieved a clinically significant improvement in the clinical outcome measures substantially up to six months post-treatment. These data were paralleled by an improvement in the stair-climbing cycle and a potentiating of frequency-specific and area-specific RSN-FC patterns. Therefore, RAGT, by means of an end-effector device equipped with body weight support, is promising in improving gait in patients with subacute, motor incomplete SCI, and it could produce additive benefit for the neuromuscular reeducation to gait in SCI when combined with conventional physiotherapy.

机器人辅助步态训练 (RAGT) 已被实施，为脊髓损伤 (SCI) 患者在步态、认知参与和外周受体的适当刺激期间提供生理性肢体激活，这对于引入支持功能恢复的神经可塑性机制至关重要. 我们旨在评估通过配备体重支撑的末端执行器装置进行的 RAGT 是否可以改善亚急性、运动不完全 SCI 患者的功能性行走。在这项试点研究中，15 名患者连续八周每周接受六次 RAGT 治疗。结果指标是肌肉力量、步行、上楼和疾病负担。此外，我们通过表面肌电图和 RAGT 前后静息状态网络的功能连接 (RSN-FC) 估计了 RAGT 期间下肢肌肉的激活模式。患者在治疗后长达六个月的临床结果测量中取得了临床上显着的改善。这些数据与爬楼梯周期的改进以及特定频率和特定区域的 RSN-FC 模式的增强相平行。因此，RAGT 通过配备体重支撑的末端执行器装置，有望改善亚急性、运动不完全性 SCI 患者的步态，并且与常规 SCI 步态相结合，可以为 SCI 步态的神经肌肉再教育带来额外的益处。理疗。患者在治疗后长达六个月的临床结果测量中取得了临床上显着的改善。这些数据与爬楼梯周期的改进以及特定频率和特定区域的 RSN-FC 模式的增强相平行。因此，RAGT 通过配备体重支撑的末端执行器装置，有望改善亚急性、运动不完全性 SCI 患者的步态，并且与常规 SCI 步态相结合，可以为 SCI 步态的神经肌肉再教育带来额外的益处。理疗。患者在治疗后长达六个月的临床结果测量中取得了临床上显着的改善。这些数据与爬楼梯周期的改进以及特定频率和特定区域的 RSN-FC 模式的增强相平行。因此，RAGT 通过配备体重支撑的末端执行器装置，有望改善亚急性、运动不完全性 SCI 患者的步态，并且与常规 SCI 步态相结合，可以为 SCI 步态的神经肌肉再教育带来额外的益处。理疗。