Walking Speed is Not the Best Outcome to Evaluate the Effect of Robotic Assisted Gait Training in People with Motor Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis

Overview

Journal J Spinal Cord Med

Date 2017 Oct 26

PMID 29065788

Citations 10

Authors

Ana Valeria Aguirre-Guemez

Aberto Isaac Perez-Sanpablo

Jimena Quinzanos-Fresnedo

Ramiro Perez-Zavala

Aida Barrera-Ortiz

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Context: While there are previous systematic reviews on the effectiveness of the use of robotic-assisted gait training (RAGT) in people with spinal cord injuries (SCI), as this is a dynamic field, new studies have been produced that are now incorporated on this systematic review (SR) with meta-analysis, updating the available evidence on this area.

Objective: To synthesise the available evidence on the use of RAGT, to improve gait, strength and functioning.

Methods: SR and meta-analysis following the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions were implemented. Cochrane Injuries Group Specialized Register, PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, ISIWeb of Science (SCIEXPANDED) databases were reviewed for the period 1990 to December 2016. Three researchers independently identified and categorized trials; 293 studies were identified, 273 eliminated; remaining 15 randomized clinical trials (RCT) and five SR. Six studies had available data for meta-analysis (222 participants).

Results: The pooled mean demonstrated a beneficial effect of RAGT for WISCI, FIM-L and LEMS (3.01, 2.74 and 1.95 respectively), and no effect for speed.

Conclusions: The results show a positive effect in the use of RAGT. However, this should be taken carefully due to heterogeneity of the studies, small samples and identified limitations of some of the included trials. These results highlight the relevance of implementing a well-designed multicenter RCT powered enough to evaluate different RAGT approaches.

Citing Articles

Effectiveness of Body Weight-Supported Gait Training on Gait and Balance for Motor-Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

Arroyo-Fernandez R, Menchero-Sanchez R, Pozuelo-Carrascosa D, Romay-Barrero H, Fernandez-Maestra A, Martinez-Galan I J Clin Med. 2024; 13(4).

PMID: 38398415 PMC: 10888564. DOI: 10.3390/jcm13041105.

Effects of a Gait Training Program on Spinal Cord Injury Patients: A Single-Group Prospective Cohort Study.

Echemendia Del Valle A, Bender Del Busto J, Sentmanat Belison A, Cuenca-Zaldivar J, Martinez-Pozas O, Martinez-Lozano P J Clin Med. 2023; 12(23).

PMID: 38068259 PMC: 10707500. DOI: 10.3390/jcm12237208.

The effect of robot-assisted gait training for patients with spinal cord injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Bin L, Wang X, Jiatong H, Donghua F, Qiang W, Yingchao S Front Neurosci. 2023; 17:1252651.

PMID: 37680972 PMC: 10482434. DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1252651.

Impact of Robotic-Assisted Gait Training in Subacute Spinal Cord Injury Patients on Outcome Measure.

Tarnacka B, Korczynski B, Frasunska J Diagnostics (Basel). 2023; 13(11).

PMID: 37296818 PMC: 10252491. DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13111966.

Comparison of Walking Quality Variables between End-Stage Osteonecrosis of Femoral Head Patients and Healthy Subjects by a Footscan Plantar Pressure System.

Wang Z, Mao X, Guo Z, Zhao R, Feng T, Xiang C Medicina (Kaunas). 2023; 59(1).

PMID: 36676683 PMC: 9865786. DOI: 10.3390/medicina59010059.

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