Clinical usability and functional outcomes of a lightweight robotic orthosis (HKAFO) in chronic stroke patients with hemiplegic gait: a pilot study.
Yeo Joon Yun, Bo Kyoung Kim, Hyeonseok Cho and 4 others
PMID 41286918WHAT IT FOUND
Chronic stroke patients walked faster and balanced better after training with a lightweight robotic orthosis, but gains appeared mostly while wearing the device.
Unassisted endurance changed little. Participants found the device heavy and difficult to put on, preferring their usual walking aids.
Key findings
01Balance and functional mobility improved significantly after training, with Berg Balance Scale scores rising from a median of 45 to 48 and Timed Up and Go times dropping from 16.80 to 14.82 seconds.
02Walking speed and endurance improved significantly only when the patient was wearing the device; unassisted walking speed and distance showed no statistically significant change.
03Despite clinical gains, 80% of participants preferred their prior gait-assist methods, citing device weight and the burden of putting it on and taking it off.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study was a single-arm pilot with no control group, so improvements cannot be definitively attributed to the device rather than natural recovery or the extra practice itself. The sample size was small (15 participants), which limits the generalizability of the findings and the statistical power to detect subtle changes. The intervention was short (six sessions over three weeks), which may not be sufficient to demonstrate long-term benefits or transfer to unassisted community ambulation. Adverse events and long-term adherence were not assessed, leaving the safety and sustainability of routine use unclear.
Declared interests
The study was funded by the Korea Medical Device Development Fund. The device was developed by Hexar Humancare Co., Ltd.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the improvements in balance and gait speed as evidence that the device restores unassisted walking ability. The gains were primarily seen while wearing the orthosis, and unassisted endurance did not significantly improve, indicating that short-term use may not translate to independent mobility.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →