Comparisons between Locomat and Walkbot robotic gait training regarding balance and lower extremity function among non-ambulatory chronic acquired brain injury survivors

Lower limb rehabilitation exoskeleton robots connect with the human body in a wearable way and control the movement of joints in the gait rehabilitation process. Among treadmill-based lower limb rehabilitation exoskeleton robots, Lokomat (Hocoma AG, Volketswil, Switzerland) has 4 actuated joints for bilateral hips and knees whereas Walkbot (P&S Mechanics, Seoul, Korea) has 6 bilateral actuated joints for bilateral hips, knees, and ankles. Lokomat and Walkbot robotic gait training systems have not been directly compared previously. The present study aimed to directly compare Lokomat and Walkbot robots in non-ambulatory chronic patients with acquired brain injury (ABI). The authors conducted a single-center, retrospective, cross-sectional study of 62 subjects with ABI who were admitted to the rehabilitation hospital. Patients were divided into 2 groups: Lokomat (n = 28) and Walkbot (n = 34). Patients were subjected to robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) combined with conventional physical therapy for a total of 14 (8–36) median (interquartile range) sessions. Baseline characteristics, including age, sex, lag time post-injury, ABI type, paralysis type, intervention sessions, lower extremity strength, spasticity, and cognitive function were assessed. Functional ambulation category (FAC) and Berg balance scale (BBS) were used for outcome measures. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the groups. Baseline FAC score was 1 (0–2) in Lokomat and 1 (0–1) in Walkbot group. After the intervention, FAC scores improved significantly to 2 (1–3) in both groups (P < .05). Lokomat and Walkbot groups showed significantly enhanced BBS from 5 (2.75–24.25) and 15 (4–26.5) to 15 (4–26.5) and 22 (12–40), respectively (P < .05). Degree of improvements in both group were not significantly different with regard to balance (P = .56) and ambulatory ability (P = .74). This study indicates that both Locomat and Walkbot robotic gait training combined with conventional gait-oriented physiotherapy are promising intervention for gait rehabilitation in patients with chronic stage of ABI who are not able to walk independently.