title: Safety and tolerance of the ReWalk™ exoskeleton suit for ambulation by people with complete spinal cord injury: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to evaluate the safety and tolerance of use of the ReWalk™ exoskeleton ambulation system in people with spinal cord injury. Measures of functional ambulation were also assessed and correlated to neurological spinal cord level, age, and duration since injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A national spinal cord injury centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six volunteer participants were recruited from the follow-up outpatient clinic. Safety was assessed with regard to falls, status of the skin, status of the spine and joints, blood pressure, pulse, and electrocardiography (ECG). Pain and fatigue were graded by the participants using a visual analogue scale pre- and post-training. Participants completed a 10-statement questionnaire regarding safety, comfort, and secondary medical effects. After being able to walk 100 m, timed up and go, distance walked in 6 minutes and 10-m timed walk were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no adverse safety events. Use of the system was generally well tolerated, with no increase in pain and a moderate level of fatigue after use. Individuals with lower level of spinal cord injury performed walking more efficiently.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Volunteer participants were able to ambulate with the ReWalk™ for a distance of 100 m, with no adverse effects during the course of an average of 13-14 training sessions. The participants were generally positive regarding the use of the system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Rehabiliation, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: Gabi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zeilig
authors.forename: Harold
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Weingarden
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zwecker
authors.forename: Israel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dudkiewicz
authors.forename: Ayala
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bloch
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esquenazi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking; D055815:Young Adult