Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2013 May 24:13:50.
doi: 10.1186/1471-2377-13-50.

Robot-assisted walking training for individuals with Parkinson's disease: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Patrizio Sale, Maria Francesca De Pandis, Domenica Le Pera, Ivan Sova, Veronica Cimolin, Andrea Ancillao, Giorgio Albertini, Manuela Galli, Fabrizio Stocchi, Marco Franceschini
Randomized Controlled Trial

Robot-assisted walking training for individuals with Parkinson's disease: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Patrizio Sale et al. BMC Neurol. .

Abstract

Background: Over the last years, the introduction of robotic technologies into Parkinson's disease rehabilitation settings has progressed from concept to reality. However, the benefit of robotic training remains elusive. This pilot randomized controlled observer trial is aimed at investigating the feasibility, the effectiveness and the efficacy of new end-effector robot training in people with mild Parkinson's disease.

Methods: Design. Pilot randomized controlled trial.

Results: Robot training was feasible, acceptable, safe, and the participants completed 100% of the prescribed training sessions. A statistically significant improvement in gait index was found in favour of the EG (T0 versus T1). In particular, the statistical analysis of primary outcome (gait speed) using the Friedman test showed statistically significant improvements for the EG (p = 0,0195). The statistical analysis performed by Friedman test of Step length left (p = 0,0195) and right (p = 0,0195) and Stride length left (p = 0,0078) and right (p = 0,0195) showed a significant statistical gain. No statistically significant improvements on the CG were found.

Conclusions: Robot training is a feasible and safe form of rehabilitative exercise for cognitively intact people with mild PD. This original approach can contribute to increase a short time lower limb motor recovery in idiopathic PD patients. The focus on the gait recovery is a further characteristic that makes this research relevant to clinical practice. On the whole, the simplicity of treatment, the lack of side effects, and the positive results from patients support the recommendation to extend the use of this treatment. Further investigation regarding the long-time effectiveness of robot training is warranted.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01668407.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CONSORT 2010 flow diagram.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Goodwin VA, Richards SH, Taylor RS, Taylor AH, Campbell JL. The effectiveness of exercise interventions for people with Parkinson’s disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Mov Disord. 2008;23(5):631–640. doi: 10.1002/mds.21922. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Davey C, Wiles R, Ashburn A, Murphy C. Falling in Parkinson’s disease: the impact on informal caregivers. Disabil Rehabil. 2004;26(23):1360–1366. doi: 10.1080/09638280400000195. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Comella CL, Stebbins GT, Brown-Toms N, Goetz CG. Physical therapy and Parkinson’s disease: a controlled clinical trial. Neurology. 1994;44(3 Pt 1):376–378. - PubMed
    1. de Goede CJ, Keus SH, Kwakkel G, Wagenaar RC. The effects of physical therapy in Parkinson’s disease: a research synthesis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2001;82(4):509–515. doi: 10.1053/apmr.2001.22352. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Tomlinson CL, Patel S, Meek C, Clarke CE, Stowe R, Shah L, Sackley CM, Deane KHO, Herd CP, Wheatley K, Ives N. Physiotherapy versus placebo or no intervention in Parkinson’s disease. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2012. Art. No. CD002817. - DOI - PubMed

Publication types

Associated data