Dynamic Standing Exercise using the Innowalk Device in Patients with Genetic and Acquired Motor Impairments.
Ana Pekanovic, Walter Strobl, Ulrich Hafkemeyer and 4 others
PMID 35362086WHAT IT FOUND
In 46 patients with severe motor impairments, Innowalk dynamic standing was linked to reported improvements in joint mobility, body stability, and bowel function.
No adverse effects were recorded. However, with no control group, these benefits cannot be separated from standard therapy.
Key findings
01Improvements were reported in passive assisted motion (79%), stimulation of intestinal functions (71%), body stability (64%), and joint mobility (56%).
02No adverse effects were reported in any of the records for the 46 patients.
03The majority of patients (92%) were classified as GMFCS E&R level IV or V, and all were unable to walk or stand independently.
STILL TO COME
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What it does not show
The study was retrospective and had no control group, so it cannot determine if the Innowalk caused the reported improvements. Patients received multiple concurrent therapies, making it impossible to separate the effect of the device from other treatments. The sample size was small (46 patients) and heterogeneous, with varied diagnoses and treatment durations. Outcomes were based on therapist reports using non-validated questionnaires rather than objective standardized measures. The device was manufactured by Made for Movement, and the study was registered in a clinical trials register, raising potential conflicts of interest.
Declared interests
The study was conducted in Germany, and the Innowalk is a product of Made for Movement. The text notes that company representatives and trained physiotherapists completed report forms. The authors state that the data reflect real-life prescription patterns by long-term prescribers.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the reported improvements in mobility and stability as proof that the Innowalk device causes these benefits. The study had no control group, and patients received multiple other therapies simultaneously, so the device's specific effect cannot be separated from standard care.