International Journal of Physiotherapy and Research

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Type of Article : Original Research

Year: 2015 | Volume 3 | Issue 6 | Page No. 1326-1335

Date of Publication: 11-12-2015

DOI: 10.16965/ijpr.2015.199

MECHANICAL GAIT TRAINING IN NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS: A REVIEW OF EVIDENCES

Iyyappan Manickavasagam *1, Poongundran Paranthaman 2, Jagatheesan Alagesan 3, Vandana J. Rathod 4.
 
*1 Senior Physiotherapist, Dubai Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Centre, Al Safa, Dubai.
2 Principal, Sigma Institute of Physiotherapy, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.
3 Assistant Professor - Physical Therapy, College of Allied Health Sciences, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, UAE.
4 Lecturer, SPB Physiotherapy College, Surat, Gujarat, India.

Corresponding author: Dr. Poongundran Paranthaman. PT., Principal, Sigma Institute of Physiotherapy, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.
E-Mail: poongundran@gmail.com

Abstract:

Robotic technologies are becoming more prevalent for treating neurological conditions in clinical settings. We conducted a literature search of original articles to identify all studies that examined the use of robotic devices for restoring walking function in adults with neurological disorders. A search was conducted in MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, Google Scholar, CINAHL and EBSCO host from 2005 to 2014. Keywords used were gait, locomotor training, multiple sclerosis, neurological disorders, rehabilitation, robotics, spinal cord injury, stroke, traumatic brain injury and walking. This review analyzed 27 articles that examined the effects of locomotor training with robotic assistance in patients following stroke, spinal cord injury (SCI), multiple sclerosis (MS), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and Parkinson disease (PD). This review supports that locomotor training with robotic assistance is beneficial for improving walking function in individuals following a stroke and SCI.  Gait speed and endurance were not found to be significantly different among patients with motor incomplete SCI after a variety of locomotor training approaches. Limited evidence demonstrates that locomotor training with robotic assistance is beneficial in populations of patients with MS, TBI, or PD. We discuss clini­cal implications and decision making in the area of gait reha­bilitation for neurological dysfunction.
KEY WORDS:Mechanical Gait Training, Locomotor Training, Robotics, Neurological Disorders, Stroke, Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury, Multiple Sclerosis.

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Iyyappan Manickavasagam, Poongundran Paranthaman, Jagatheesan Alagesan, Vandana J. Rathod. MECHANICAL GAIT TRAINING IN NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS: A REVIEW OF EVIDENCES. Int J Physiother Res 2015;3(6):1326-1335. DOI: 10.16965/ijpr.2015.199

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