Powered Exoskeleton-Assisted Walking in Persons With Spinal Cord Injury

Brief Summary

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) represents a significant health challenge, particularly when it comes to the ability to walk. Among its many consequences, mobility impairment can not only directly impact quality of life but also cause a series of secondary problems, such as urinary tract problems, breathing difficulties, muscle contractures, joint stiffness, and resulting pain. These effects can manifest early, even at a young age, further increasing the physical and psychological burden of those affected. To address these challenges, the use of overground exoskeletons, such as the Ekso Bionics (USA), has attracted growing interest in both scientific research and clinical practice. The Ekso not only offers mobility but also represents a valuable resource for gait training, with potential direct and indirect benefits for the physical health and overall well-being of people with SCI. This study is a multicenter, retrospective, pre-post cohort study with the aim of evaluating the dose-dependent effects of exoskeleton-assisted walking training on level ground on spasticity and functional independence in individuals with spinal cord injury. The sample includes at least 70 participants with SCI underwed at least five sessions of walking training using the Ekso™ exoskeleton. Primary outcomes included changes in spasticity, measured by the aggregated Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), and functional independence, assessed by the Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM) III. The ultimate aim is therefore to evaluate whether ground-based exoskeleton-assisted gait training effectively reduces spasticity and improves functional independence in individuals with spinal cord injury, as this can support the integration of wearable motorized exoskeleons into standard spinal cord injury rehabilitation protocols.