Effects of Two Different Hip-Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthoses on Postural Stability in Subjects with Spinal Cord Injury: A Pilot Study

The Effects of Lower Limb Orthoses on Health Aspects of the Spinal Cord Injury Patients: A Systematic Review Using International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) as a Reference Framework

Background: One of the most important approaches in the rehabilitation of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients is the use of different orthoses. To date, no review has been published that analyzed the effects of orthoses on health aspects of spinal cord injury clients using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Methods: A systematic literature search was done in some databases, including Medline, PubMed, Cochrane centered register of the controlled trial (CCTR), Cochrane database of systematic reviews (CDSR), a database of abstracts of reviews of effects (DARE), Embase, Google Scholar, and ISI Web of Knowledge. SCI was used in conjunction with terms like orthotic device, mechanical orthoses, external power orthoses, assistive devices, and functional electrical. The time frame for this search was from 1970 to 2022. Results: A total of 200 papers were found. Based on the titles and abstracts, 100 related papers were detected. After careful evaluation of the papers, 47 studies were selected for final analysis-53 papers were excluded due to duplication, non-English language, and lack of full-text. Conclusion: The results of 32 studies (70% of studies) support the efficiency of orthoses in walking and standing of SCI patients. In most of the included studies, the efficiency of orthoses was evaluated mostly based on body functions and structures, and their impact on other outcomes such as participation and quality of life (QoL) of SCI patients was unclear.

Wearable robotic exoskeleton for gait reconstruction in patients with spinal cord injury: A literature review

Objectives

Wearable robotic exoskeletons (WREs) have been globally developed to achieve gait reconstruction in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). The present study aimed to enable evidence-based decision-making in selecting the optimal WRE according to residual motor function and to provide a new perspective on further development of appropriate WREs.

Methods

The current review was conducted by searching PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for relevant studies published from April 2015 to February 2020. Selected studies were analysed with a focus on the participants’ neurological level of SCI, amount of training (number of training sessions and duration of the total training period), gait speed and endurance achieved, and subgroup exploration of the number of persons for assistance and the walking aid used among patients with cervical level injury.

Results

A total of 28 articles (nine using Ekso, three using Indego, ten using ReWalk, one using REX, five using Wearable Power-Assist Locomotor) involving 228 patients were included in the analysis. Across all WREs, T6 was the most frequently reported level of SCI. The amount of training showed a wide distribution (number of training sessions: 2–230 sessions [30–120 min per session]; duration of the total training period: 1–24 weeks [1–5 times per week]). The mean gait speed was 0.31 m/s (standard deviation [SD] 0.14), and the mean distance on the 6-min walking test as a measure of endurance was 108.9 m (SD 46.7). The subgroup exploration aimed at patients with cervical level injury indicated that 59.2% of patients were able to ambulate with no physical assistance and several patients used a walker as a walking aid.

Conclusion

The number of cervical level injury increased, as compared to the number previously indicated by a prior similar review. Training procedure was largely different among studies. Further improvement based on gait performance is required for use and dissemination in daily life.

The translational potential of this article

The present review reveals the current state of the clinical effectiveness of WREs for gait reconstruction in patients with SCI, contributing to evidence-based device application and further development.