Evaluation of the Keeogo exoskeleton for assisting ambulatory activities in people with multiple sclerosis: an open-label, randomized, cross-over trial.
Chris A McGibbon, Andrew Sexton, Arun Jayaraman and 7 others
PMID 30541585WHAT IT FOUND
People with multiple sclerosis walked and climbed stairs slower while wearing the Keeogo exoskeleton compared to not wearing it.
However, using the device at home for two weeks improved their unassisted walking and stair performance, suggesting a conditioning benefit rather than immediate assistance.
Key findings
01Participants performed worse on timed functional tests (walking and stairs) when wearing the Keeogo exoskeleton compared to when they did not.
02Two weeks of home use improved unassisted 6-minute walk distance by 27.9 meters and stair climbing time by 3.06 seconds.
03There was no significant difference in daily step counts at home between periods with and without the device.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The study was open-label, so participants knew whether they were wearing the device or not, which could influence their effort or reporting. The improvements in unassisted performance after home use were statistically significant but did not exceed the minimal detectable change, meaning the clinical importance of these gains is uncertain. Participants were required to be able to walk 25 meters without human assistance, limiting generalizability to those with more severe mobility impairments. The study did not control for or measure the specific exercise intensity or duration during the home use period beyond self-reported logs and step counts. The sample size was small (29 completers), and the trial was relatively short (6 weeks).
Declared interests
The study was supported by non-U.S. government funds. Two participants were withdrawn from the study by the Sponsor (B-Temia Inc., the manufacturer of the Keeogo device) because they could not be completed in time for the analysis.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the improvement in unassisted walking distance after home use as evidence that the Keeogo makes walking easier or faster while worn. The device actually slowed participants down during use. The benefit appeared only after removing the device, suggesting a training or conditioning effect rather than an assistive one.