TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2016//
TI  - Does robot-assisted gait training improve ambulation in highly disabled multiple sclerosis people? A pilot randomized control trial
JO  - Multiple Sclerosis: Clinical and Laboratory Research
A1  - Pompa, Alessandra
A1  - Morone, Giovanni
A1  - Iosa, Marco
A1  - Pace, Luca
A1  - Catani, Sheila
A1  - Casillo, Paolo
A1  - Clemenzi, Alessandro
A1  - Troisi, Elio
A1  - Tonini, Angelo
A1  - Paolucci, Stefano
A1  - Grasso, Maria Grazia
SP  - 696
EP  - 703
VL  - 23
IS  - 5
N2  - BACKGROUND: Robotic training is commonly used to assist walking training in patients affected by multiple sclerosis (MS) with non-conclusive results. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) with that of conventional walking training (CWT) on gait competencies, global ability, fatigue and spasticity in a group of severely affected patients with MS. <br><br>METHODS: A pilot, single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted in 43 severe (Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of 6-7.5) and non-autonomous ambulant in-patients with MS. Experimental group performed 12 sessions of RAGT, whereas control group performed the same amount of CWT. Primary outcome measures were gait ability assessed by 2 minutes walking test and Functional Ambulatory Category; secondary outcomes were global ability (modified Barthel Index), global mobility (Rivermead Mobility Index), severity of disease (EDSS) and subjectively perceived fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale). <br><br>RESULTS: The number of subjects who achieved a clinical significant improvement was significantly higher in RAGT than in CWT (p < 0.05 for both primary outcome measures). RAGT also led to an improvement in all the other clinical parameters (global ability: p < 0.001, global mobility: p < 0.001, EDSS: p = 0.014 and fatigue: p = 0.001). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: RAGT improved the walking competencies in non-autonomous ambulant patients with MS, with benefits in terms of perceived fatigue.<br><br>© The Author(s), 2016.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1352-4585
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1352458516663033
ID  - ref1
ER  -