Adaptations in Muscular Strength for Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis Following Robotic Rehabilitation: A Scoping Review.

Only five studies met the inclusion criteria, and sample sizes were small, ranging from 6 to 20 participants. Muscular strength was not the primary or targeted outcome in the included studies; it was measured alongside motor or gait goals. None of the included studies reported training volume such as repetitions, sets or load, so clinicians cannot tell what dose produced the changes. The studies did not analyse results by multiple sclerosis phenotype or disability level, so it is unclear who benefits most. The review reported EDSS scores from 6.0 to 8.0, so the findings may not apply to people with milder disability. Follow-up was limited: one lower-limb study returned to baseline at 6 months, and only one study reported a 3-month follow-up improvement.

The authors declared no commercial or financial relationships. One author was supported by the Canada Research Chairs program.

Do not read this as proof that robot-assisted rehabilitation is an effective strength-training program for multiple sclerosis. Strength was not the main target, only three of five studies showed increases, and the papers did not report repetitions, load or progression.