Evaluating the safety of a robotic supine gait training device for pediatric rehabilitation - a retrospective study.

This was a retrospective review of existing records, not a controlled trial, so it cannot prove the device works better than other treatments or even that it is effective at all. Adverse events were only counted if they were already written in the chart or confirmed by phone call; minor issues that patients did not report to staff might have been missed. The study was conducted at a single center, so results may not apply to other clinics with different patient mixes or staff expertise. The authors suggest minimum age and size limits based on the smallest patients in this group, but this does not mean the device is safe for children smaller than those limits.

The authors declared no financial support for the research. However, one author is the CEO of Satisform, the company that manufactures the device studied, which is a significant conflict of interest.

Do not interpret the absence of adverse events as evidence that the device improves patient function or reduces pain. The study only measured safety, not efficacy, and the lack of a control group means we do not know if these patients would have done just as well without the machine.