Overground robotic walker use in the home and community: a six-month prospective cohort study.

This was an observational study with no control group, so improvements cannot be definitively attributed to the device rather than natural development, placebo effect, or increased family attention. Participants self-selected into the study by leasing or purchasing the device, introducing potential bias as these families were already motivated to see benefits. Missing data was substantial, with questionnaire completion rates dropping from 84% at baseline to 57% at 6 months, and device usage data available for 136 to 165 participants. The study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have influenced physical activity levels and sleep patterns independently of the device. Outcome measures were parent-reported, which may introduce variability or bias compared to clinician-rated assessments.

The study was funded by the Robertson Fund for Cerebral Palsy Research at the University of Calgary. The text notes that participants leased or purchased devices from Trexo Robotics, but does not explicitly state Trexo Robotics provided funding for this specific study or that authors had financial conflicts with the company.

Do not interpret the statistically significant improvement in walking ability as a guarantee of clinically meaningful change. The median score shifted from 1 to 2 on the FAQ, but most participants did not reach the minimal important difference of 1.5 points, meaning many remained at a similar level of functional independence.