Avaltroni Priscilla, Ivanenko Yury, Assenza Carla, Catania Hilenia, Coluccini Michele, Morone Giovanni, Morelli Daniela, Cappellini Germana
Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.
Department of Systems Medicine and Center of Space Biomedicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
Front Pediatr. 2024 Dec 5;12:1447512. doi: 10.3389/fped.2024.1447512. eCollection 2024.
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a leading cause of childhood motor disability, making independent walking a crucial therapeutic goal. Robotic assistive devices offer potential to enhance mobility, promoting community engagement and quality of life. This is an observational report of 22 cases of children with CP in which we evaluated the Moonwalker exoskeleton (a dynamic moving aid system) usability, functional changes, and caregivers' perspectives based on the International Classification of Functioning (ICF). All children (aged 2-8 years, with a severe gait impairment and inability to use a conventional walker) underwent Moonwalker training for 20 sessions, followed by home use for five months. Post-treatment, majority of children showed improved endurance assessed by the 10-m walk test with a notable involvement of the upper trunk and arm movements for gait assistance. Many of them achieved rather remarkable results reaching a velocity of ≥0.5 m/s given the constraints of the walking exoskeleton and the children's size, while at admission all children walked at a speed of less than 0.5 m/s. Several positive environmental factors and family adherence were noted, as assessed by ICF in a subgroup of children. This study on a sample of children demonstrated that the Moonwalker exoskeleton allows walking and training at home in children with severe CP, enhancing development, social interaction, and endurance, while being well-received by families.
脑性瘫痪（CP）是儿童运动残疾的主要原因，使独立行走成为关键的治疗目标。机器人辅助设备有潜力增强行动能力，促进社区参与和提高生活质量。这是一份对22例CP患儿的观察报告，我们基于国际功能分类法（ICF）评估了“月球漫步者”外骨骼（一种动态移动辅助系统）的可用性、功能变化以及照料者的观点。所有儿童（年龄在2至8岁之间，存在严重步态障碍且无法使用传统助行器）接受了20次“月球漫步者”训练，随后在家中使用五个月。治疗后，多数儿童通过10米步行测试评估显示耐力有所提高，上躯干和手臂运动明显参与到步态辅助中。鉴于步行外骨骼的限制和儿童的体型，他们中的许多人取得了相当显著的成果，速度达到≥0.5米/秒，而入院时所有儿童的行走速度均低于0.5米/秒。通过ICF对一组儿童进行评估发现了一些积极的环境因素和家庭依从性。这项针对儿童样本的研究表明，“月球漫步者”外骨骼能让重度CP患儿在家中行走和训练，促进其发育、社交互动和耐力，同时受到家庭的好评。
