title: A comparison of robotic walking therapy and conventional walking therapy in individuals with upper versus lower motor neuron lesions: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare a walking reeducation program with robotic locomotor training plus overground therapy (LKOGT) to conventional overground training (OGT) in individuals with incomplete upper motor neuron (UMN) or lower motor neuron (LMN) injuries having either traumatic or nontraumatic nonprogressive etiology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized open controlled trial with blind evaluation by an independent observer.
  
  
  METHODS
  An inpatient spinal cord injury rehabilitation center.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 88 adults within 6 months of spinal cord injury onset (group A, 44 with UMN injury, and group B, 44 with LMN injury) were graded on the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale as C or D. Each of these groups was then randomly allocated to conditions 1 or 2.
  
  
  METHODS
  Condition 1: Subgroups A1 and B1 were treated with LKOGT for 60 minutes. Condition 2: Subgroups A2 and B2 received 60 minutes of conventional OGT 5 days per week for 8 weeks. Subjects with UMN and LMN were randomized into 2 training groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten-meter walk test and 6-minute walk test (6MWT). Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury II, lower extremity motor score (LEMS), and the FIM-Locomotor were secondary outcome measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  By using the LKOGT program compared with OGT, we found significant differences in the 6MWT for groups A1 and B1. LKOGT also provided higher scores than did OGT in secondary outcomes such as the LEMS and the FIM-Locomotor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Robotic-assisted step training yielded better results in the 6MWT and the LEMS in patients with UMN and LMN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Hospital for Paraplegics, Toledo, Spain. Electronic address: anae@sescam.jccm.es.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esclarín-Ruz
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Hospital for Paraplegics, Toledo, Spain.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alcobendas-Maestro
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Hospital for Paraplegics, Toledo, Spain.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Casado-Lopez
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Hospital for Paraplegics, Toledo, Spain.
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Perez-Mateos
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Hospital for Paraplegics, Toledo, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel Angel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Florido-Sanchez
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Hospital for Paraplegics, Toledo, Spain.
authors.forename: Esteban
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Valdizan
authors.affiliation: European University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose Luis R
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology; D016138:Walking
keywords: Clinical trial; Locomotor; Rehabilitation; Spinal cord injuries