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Case Reports
. 2022 Jun 16;14(2):536-546.
doi: 10.3390/neurolint14020043.

Rehabilitation Program for Gait Training Using UAN.GO, a Powered Exoskeleton: A Case Report

Gianfranco Lamberti  1   2 , Gianluca Sesenna  3 , Qamil Paja  4 , Gianluca Ciardi  1   2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Rehabilitation Program for Gait Training Using UAN.GO, a Powered Exoskeleton: A Case Report

Gianfranco Lamberti et al. Neurol Int. .

Abstract

Background: Spinal cord injury is characterized by the interruption of neural pathways of the spinal cord, with alteration of sensory, motor, and autonomic functions. Robotic-assisted gait training offers many possibilities, including the capability to reach a physiological gait pattern.

Methods: A training protocol with UAN.GO®, an active lower limb exoskeleton, was developed. A participant having D10 complete SCI was recruited for this study. The training protocol was composed by 13 sessions, lasting 1.5 h each. The effectiveness of the protocol was evaluated through the mobility performance during the 6 MWT, the level of exertion perceived administrating Borg RPE at the end of each 6 MWT. Furthermore, time and effort required by the participant to earn a higher level of skills were considered.

Results: A significant improvement was registered in the six MWT (t0 = 45.64 m t1 = 84.87 m). Data referring to the mean level of exertion remained stable. The patient successfully achieved a higher level of independence and functional mobility with the exoskeleton.

Discussion: The findings from this preliminary study suggest that UAN.GO can be a valid tool for walking rehabilitation of spinal cord injury patients, allowing the achievement of greater mobility performances.

Keywords: rehabilitation; robotic exoskeleton; spinal cord injury; walking.

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Conflict of interest statement

PT Gianluca Sesenna was one of the UAN.GO developers; all other authors have no conflict to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Sagittal view of UAN.GO, the exoskeleton used for the present case report. The device is provided of a bilateral four-joint system (hip, knee, ankle and foot), in which proximal joint are computerized (hip and knee), distal ones are fixed (ankle and foot). A central unit allows movement maps execution.
Figure 2
Figure 2
ONE MORE STEP is the treatment protocol developed for this study.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Trend of six MWT.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Trend of the BORG score.
Scheme 1
Scheme 1
Relation between the Borg score and the length of the step of the movement map used during the session.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Donning times comparison between Uan.Go, Ekso [36], ReWalk [37] and Indego [38] exoskeletons.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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