title: Effects of gait training using the Hybrid Assistive Limb® in recovery-phase stroke patients: A 2-month follow-up, randomized, controlled study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gait training using the Hybrid Assistive Limb® (HAL®) may have beneficial effects on post-stroke gait function and independent walking. However, the long-term and medium-term efficacies of gait training using HAL® in stroke patients remain unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the medium-term efficacy of gait training using a single-leg version of the Hybrid Assistive Limb® (HAL®) on the paretic side with conventional gait training (CGT) in recovery-phase stroke patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four post-stroke participants (HAL® group: n = 12, CGT group: n = 12) completed the trial. Over 4 weeks, all participants received twelve 20-min sessions of either HAL® (using the single-leg version of HAL® on the paretic side) or conventional (performed by skilled and experienced physical therapists) gait training. Outcome measures were evaluated prior to training, after 12 sessions, and at 8 and 12 weeks after intervention initiation. Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) was the primary outcome measure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The HAL® group showed significant improvement in FAC after 12 sessions, and at 8 and 12 weeks compared to the conventional group (P = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggested that a gait training program based on HAL® may improve independent walking more efficiently than CGT at 1 and 2 months after intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Science and Welfare, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.|Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Department of Primary Care and Medical Education, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryohei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Tsukuba Memorial Hospital, Tsukuba, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matsumura
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Science and Welfare, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.
authors.forename: Hisako
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yanagi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003376:Counseling; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005121:Extremities / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D012656:Self-Help Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Exoskeleton device; rehabilitation; robotics; stroke; walking