Improving dynamic balance in relapsing-remitting MS: insights from robotic-assisted rehabilitation therapy.
Jessica Podda, Ludovico Pedullà, Giorgia Marchesi and 10 others
PMID 41514436WHAT IT FOUND
Both robotic-assisted and traditional balance training improved clinical balance scores equally.
However, the robotic group showed superior recovery speed and trunk stability during dynamic perturbations, suggesting robots help train reactive balance better than standard exercises alone.
Key findings
01The primary outcome, Berg Balance Scale, improved significantly over time in both groups, with no difference between robotic-assisted and traditional training.
02Participants in the robotic group showed greater improvements in reactive balance, specifically stabilizing faster after side-to-side perturbations, compared to the traditional group.
03The robotic group also demonstrated better trunk control and reduced sway path length during dynamic balance tasks with eyes open, unlike the traditional group.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
Results may not apply to people with more severe disability (EDSS > 6) or progressive MS, as these groups were excluded. The two-month follow-up may be too short to determine if the specific benefits of robotic training on dynamic balance are sustained long-term. The study did not measure neuroplastic changes, so the mechanism behind the improved reactive balance in the robotic group remains unclear. Four participants in the traditional group missed some robot-based assessments, reducing the sample size for those specific comparisons.
Declared interests
Funding was provided by the European Union (NextGenerationEU), the Ministry of University and Research (MUR), and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). No commercial conflicts of interest were declared by the authors.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume robotic training is better for overall balance function. The primary clinical outcome (Berg Balance Scale) showed no difference between groups. The robotic advantage was only seen in specific, fine-grained dynamic measures like reaction time to perturbations, not in general walking or static stability.
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 →