Assistive Technology Clinic, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada.
Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2022 Oct;58(5):723-737. doi: 10.23736/S1973-9087.22.07549-9. Epub 2022 Jun 14.
People with Parkinson's Disease (PD) have difficulty participating in exercise.
The primary objective of this pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to determine if 8 weeks (2x per week) of bilateral exoskeleton (Exo) exercise results in positive changes in cognition and participation in adults with PD compared to exercising without an exoskeleton (Nxo) or wait-list control (Con).
Open-label, parallel, pilot randomized controlled trial.
Neurorehabilitation clinic in a large urban center.
Adults 50-85 years old with a confirmed diagnosis of PD.
Eight weeks of twice-weekly combined aerobic, strength and mobility exercise or wait-list control. Participants were randomly assigned to exercise with no exoskeleton (Nxo), exercise with the exoskeleton (Exo), or waitlist control (Con). Primary endpoints were change in cognitive function (SCOPA-COG) and mood. Secondary endpoints were change in gait speed, six-minute walk test (6MWT), freezing of gait, balance, and PD-specific health and quality of life outcomes. Safety endpoint was analysis of adverse events (AE).
Forty participated in the trial (Exo, N.=13; Nxo, N.=14; Con, N.=13). Significant improvement in the Memory & Learning domain of the SCOPA-COG (P=0.014) and 6MWT (P=0.008) were detected for the Exo group compared to the Nxo and/or Con group. No other statistically significant between-groups effects were found. There were no serious or unanticipated AE.
Functional exercise with a low-profile overground exoskeleton showed promising results for improving memory and gait endurance in people with PD across HY stages I-IV.
Exoskeletons can improve participation in high-intensity exercise.
帕金森病（PD）患者在参与运动方面存在困难。
本先导随机对照试验（RCT）的主要目的是确定 8 周（每周 2 次）的双侧外骨骼（Exo）运动是否会导致 PD 成人的认知和参与能力发生积极变化，与不使用外骨骼（Nxo）或等待名单对照（Con）相比。
开放性、平行、先导随机对照试验。
大型城市中心的神经康复诊所。
年龄在 50-85 岁之间、确诊为 PD 的成年人。
每周两次的有氧、力量和移动性联合锻炼 8 周，或等待名单对照。参与者被随机分配到不使用外骨骼（Nxo）、使用外骨骼（Exo）或等待名单对照（Con）进行锻炼。主要终点是认知功能（SCOPA-COG）和情绪变化。次要终点是步态速度、6 分钟步行测试（6MWT）、步态冻结、平衡和 PD 特定的健康和生活质量结果的变化。安全终点是不良事件（AE）分析。
40 人参加了试验（Exo，n=13；Nxo，n=14；Con，n=13）。与 Nxo 和/或 Con 组相比，Exo 组在 SCOPA-COG 的记忆和学习领域（P=0.014）和 6MWT（P=0.008）显著改善。未发现其他具有统计学意义的组间效应。没有严重或意外的 AE。
低轮廓地面外骨骼的功能性运动在 HY 阶段 I-IV 的 PD 患者中显示出改善记忆和步态耐力的有希望的结果。
外骨骼可以提高高强度运动的参与度。
