Universal Journal of Public Health Vol. 9(5), pp. 235 - 239
DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2021.090505
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Impact of WALKBOT on the Gait and Balance Recovery of Patients with Acute Neurologic Disorders

Sung-Joon Yun ^*
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Wonju Severance Christian Hospital, Yonsei University, South Korea

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the effects of WALKBOT robotic-assisted gait training (RAGT) on lower extremity strength, functional ability, balance, and gait in patients with acute neurologic disorders. Twenty-six patients with acute hemiplegia, paraplegia, or quadriplegia resulting from cerebrovascular accident (n = 14) or spinal cord injury (n = 12) received RAGT 10–15 times over 2 weeks (up to 5 times or 20 min per day), combined with neurodevelopmental treatment. The main outcomes were pre- and post-intervention Motricity Index (MI), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Functional Ambulation Category (FAC). The secondary outcomes were comparison of combined pre- and post-intervention scores for all patients (spinal cord injury and cerebrovascular accident) on 14 items in the BBS. There were significant improvements in MI, BBS, and FAC scores after WALKBOT RAGT (p < .001). After WALKBOT RAGT, the BBS scores on items 1–11 increased for all patients with acute neurologic disorders (p < .05); no significant differences were observed for items 12–14 (p > .05). WALKBOT RAGT improves balance and gait in patients with acute neurologic disorders.

KEYWORDS
Balance, Cerebrovascular Accident, Robotic-Assisted Gait Training, Spinal Cord Injury

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Sung-Joon Yun , "Impact of WALKBOT on the Gait and Balance Recovery of Patients with Acute Neurologic Disorders," Universal Journal of Public Health, Vol. 9, No. 5, pp. 235 - 239, 2021. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2021.090505.

(b). APA Format:
Sung-Joon Yun (2021). Impact of WALKBOT on the Gait and Balance Recovery of Patients with Acute Neurologic Disorders. Universal Journal of Public Health, 9(5), 235 - 239. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2021.090505.