Identifying candidates for torque-assisted exoskeleton for gait assistance after stroke: a pre-specified subgroup analysis.
Won H Chang, Tae-Woo Kim, Hyoung S Kim and 6 others
PMID 41874379WHAT IT FOUND
Patients with severe walking impairment (FAC 0-1) walked faster and further with the exoskeleton on.
Patients with better baseline walking ability performed worse when wearing it. Functional Ambulatory Category was the only factor predicting who would benefit.
Key findings
01Patients classified as good responders (n=21) had significantly faster walking speed and greater endurance in the robot-on state compared to the robot-off state.
02Nearly half the participants (n=27) were negative responders who experienced significantly slower speed and reduced endurance when the robot was active.
03Baseline Functional Ambulatory Category (FAC) was the only independent factor associated with the walking assistance effect in multivariate analysis.
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 sample size was small, particularly for the no-responder group (n=7), which limits statistical power. Cognitive function was not assessed, so its potential influence on device adaptation was not analyzed. The study did not compare the exoskeleton to conventional orthoses or other assistive devices. Long-term effects and use in home or community settings were not evaluated. Non-ambulatory patients were underrepresented, limiting generalizability to those with the most severe impairments.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The work was funded by the Korea Medical Device Development Fund grant from the Korean government.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the exoskeleton is universally beneficial for gait training. The study found that patients with better baseline walking ability (negative responders) actually walked slower and with less endurance when wearing the device. It is most effective for those with severe impairment (low FAC).
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 →