Early term effects of robotic assisted gait training on ambulation and functional capacity in patients with spinal cord injury

BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of the study was to determine the effects of robotic-assisted gait training on ambulation and functional capacity in patients with spinal cord injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 88 patients were included and were randomly divided into two groups. The first group underwent 16 sessions of robotic therapy training for 8 weeks and conventional therapy for 5 days a week. The second group underwent conventional treatment. The Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury II was used to evaluate functional ambulation, and the functional independence measure score was used to assess patients’ functional independence levels in a blind manner. RESULTS: A significant improvement was observed in both groups according to Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury II and functional independence measure scores (P < 0.001). However, a significantly higher improvement according to the Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury II (P = 0.011) and functional independence measure scores (P = 0.022) was seen in the robotic group than in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic-assisted gait training combined with conventional therapy was found to be superior to the conventional therapy in terms of gait function and level of disability.