Rehabilitation training using a single-joint type hybrid assistive limb for the knee after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: an initial case report indicating safety and feasibility.
Yuichiro Soma, Hirotaka Mutsuzaki, Tomokazu Yoshioka and 4 others
PMID 33519080WHAT IT FOUND
One patient used a knee-assisting robot for three sessions after ACL reconstruction.
He had no adverse events. His strength symmetry and knee function scores improved, but this single case cannot prove the robot caused the change.
Key findings
01The patient completed three sessions of robot-assisted training with no adverse events directly attributed to the device.
02Limb symmetry index for peak extension torque improved at all tested speeds after the three sessions.
03The Lysholm knee questionnaire score increased from 58 before training to 94 after training.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
This is a single case report, so it cannot determine if the HAL-SJ is effective compared to standard care. The patient received conventional physical therapy alongside the robot training, making it impossible to separate the robot's contribution from the standard care. The follow-up period was very short (only 4 weeks between pre- and post-assessment), so long-term effects and retention of gains are unknown. The mechanism for any observed improvement is unclear and not investigated with neurophysiological measures like EMG.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the robot caused the improvements. The patient was also receiving standard physical therapy, so the gains in strength and function could be from the conventional rehab, the natural healing process, or the combination, rather than the HAL-SJ itself.