Sczesny-Kaiser Matthias, Kowalewski Rebecca, Schildhauer Thomas A, Aach Mirko, Jansen Oliver, Grasmücke Dennis, Güttsches Anne-Katrin, Vorgerd Matthias, Tegenthoff Martin
Department of Neurology, BG-University Hospital Bergmannsheil Bochum, Ruhr University BochumBochum, Germany.
Department of General and Trauma Surgery, BG-University Hospital Bergmannsheil Bochum, Ruhr University BochumBochum, Germany.
Front Neurosci. 2017 Aug 8;11:449. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00449. eCollection 2017.
Exoskeletons have been developed for rehabilitation of patients with walking impairment due to neurological disorders. Recent studies have shown that the voluntary-driven exoskeleton HAL® (hybrid assistive limb) can improve walking functions in spinal cord injury and stroke. The aim of this study was to assess safety and effects on walking function of HAL® supported treadmill therapy in patients with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD). Three LGMD patients received 8 weeks of treadmill training with HAL® 3 times a week. Outcome parameters were 10-meter walk test (10 MWT), 6-minute walk test, and timed-up-and-go test (TUG). Parameters were assessed pre and post training and 6 weeks later (follow-up). All patients completed the therapy without adverse reactions and reported about improvement in endurance. Improvements in outcome parameters after 8 weeks could be demonstrated. Persisting effects were observed after 6 weeks for the 10 MWT and TUG test (follow-up). HAL® treadmill training in LGMD patients can be performed safely and enables an intensive highly repetitive locomotor training. All patients benefitted from this innovative method. Upcoming controlled studies with larger cohorts should prove its effects in different types of LGMD and other myopathies.
外骨骼已被开发用于因神经疾病导致行走障碍的患者的康复治疗。最近的研究表明，自愿驱动的外骨骼HAL®（混合辅助肢体）可以改善脊髓损伤和中风患者的行走功能。本研究的目的是评估HAL®支持的跑步机训练对肢带型肌营养不良（LGMD）患者的安全性及对其行走功能的影响。三名LGMD患者接受了为期8周的跑步机训练，每周使用HAL®训练三次。结果参数包括10米步行测试（10 MWT）、6分钟步行测试和计时起立行走测试（TUG）。在训练前、训练后以及6周后（随访）对参数进行评估。所有患者均完成了治疗，且无不良反应，并报告耐力有所改善。8周后可证明结果参数有所改善。在6周后的随访中，观察到10 MWT和TUG测试存在持续效果。LGMD患者进行HAL®跑步机训练是安全的，并且能够进行密集的高度重复性运动训练。所有患者都从这种创新方法中受益。即将开展的针对更大样本量的对照研究应能证明其在不同类型的LGMD和其他肌病中的效果。
