title: Effects of training with the ReWalk exoskeleton on quality of life in incomplete spinal cord injury: a single case study.
abstract: It is a single case study. An investigation to what extent the quality of life (QoL) of patients with spinal cord injury can be influenced by the training with an exoskeleton. The study was carried out at a Hospital for neurological rehabilitation, Germany. One patient (male, 22 years), initially unable to walk independently after traumatic spinal cord injury with neurological level Th11 (ASIA Impairment Scale C) was recruited for this study 1 year after injury. The progress of the first 6 months of ReWalk training was documented and as primary outcome measure the QoL was measured with SF-36 questionnaire. Secondary outcome measures were ASIA scale, Berg-Balance-Scale and Dynamic Gait Index. At the end of the studyperiod the patient was able to walk independently supervised by one person. QoL, mobility, risk of falling, motor skills and control of bladder and bowel functions were improved. A positive effect of robot-assisted gait training on various areas of the QoL was shown. Subsequent studies should aim to verify this effect through a higher number of patients and to different injury levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Asklepios Neurological Hospital Falkenstein , Königstein-Falkenstein, Germany.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Raab
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hospital Falkenstein , Königstein-Falkenstein, Germany.
authors.forename: Karsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krakow
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Asklepios Neurological Hospital Falkenstein , Königstein-Falkenstein, Germany.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tripp
authors.affiliation: Department of Lecturers for Physiotherapy, Fresenius University of Applied Sciences , Idstein, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jung