title: Effect on body composition and bone mineral density of walking with a robotic exoskeleton in adults with chronic spinal cord injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effect on body composition and bone mineral density of locomotor training using a robotic exoskeleton in individuals with spinal cord injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interventional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five adults with a non-progressive traumatic complete sensorimotor spinal cord injury who were using a wheelchair as a primary mode of mobility. Participants performed a personalized 6-week progressive locomotor training programme using a robotic exoskeleton 3 times/week for up to 60 min. Body composition measures were determined using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and peripheral quantitative computed tomography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant increase in leg and appendicular lean body mass and a decrease in total, leg and appendicular fat mass was observed after the intervention. Furthermore, the calf muscle cross-sectional area increased significantly after the intervention. Finally, although not statistically significant, there was an increase of 14.5% in bone mineral density of the tibia, which may be clinically significant. A decrease of > 5 % was also noted for subcutaneous adipose tissue and intramuscular adipose tissue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Locomotor training using a robotic exoskeleton appears to be associated with improvements in body composition and, potentially, bone health.
authors.affiliation: Exercise Science, Université du Québec à Montréal, H2X1Y4 Montreal, Canada. karelis.antony@uqam.ca.
authors.forename: Antony D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Karelis
authors.forename: Lívia Pinheiro
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Manuel Jose
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: Dany H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Gagnon
authors.forename: Mylène
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aubertin-Leheudre
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D000067190:Exoskeleton Device / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*