Effect of robotic gait training on cardiorespiratory system in incomplete spinal cord injury

• Published in: Journal of rehabilitation research and development Vol. 50; no. 10; pp. 1411 - 1422
• Main Authors: Hoekstra, Femke, van Nunen, Michiel P M, Gerrits, Karin H L, Stolwijk-Swüste, Janneke M, Crins, Martine H P, Janssen, Thomas W J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Department of Veterans Affairs 01.01.2013; Superintendent of Documents
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Analysis; Cardiovascular System - physiopathology; Care and treatment; Complications and side effects; Development and progression; Exercise; Exercise Therapy - standards; Female; Gait; Health aspects; Heart beat; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Older people; Physical fitness; Prognosis; Respiratory System - physiopathology; Robotics; Spinal cord injuries; Spinal Cord Injuries - physiopathology; Spinal Cord Injuries - rehabilitation; Studies; Walking; Netherlands; exercise intensity; spinal cord injury; heart rate; aerobic training; cardiorespiratory fitness; locomotor training; oxygen consumption; robotic walking; exercise; robot-assisted gait training; rehabilitation therapy
• ISSN: 0748-7711; 1938-1352
• DOI: 10.1682/JRRD.2012.10.0186

The objectives in this study were to investigate the effect of robot-assisted gait training on cardiorespiratory fitness in subjects with motor incomplete spinal cord injury and document the exercise intensity of robotic walking in comparison with the recommended guidelines. Ten patients followed a 24-session training program with a robotic gait orthosis in addition to physiotherapy sessions completed within 10 to 16 wk. Cardiorespiratory fitness was determined in a graded arm crank exercise test before and after the training program. To assess the intensity of robot-assisted walking, oxygen consumption (VO2) and heart rate (HR) were measured during a training session early in and at the end of the training program, and exercise intensity measures (percentage of VO2 reserve [%VO2R], percentage of HR reserve [%HRR], and metabolic equivalents [METs]) were calculated. Whereas no changes were found in peak VO2, the resting and submaximal HR at a constant work load were significantly lower after training. Most subjects exercised at low intensity (<30%VO2R, <30%HRR, <3.0 METs), and only two subjects exercised at moderate intensity (>3.0 METs). In spite of the low exercise intensity of the training program and no changes in peak VO2, robot-assisted gait training induced some improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness, as suggested by lower resting and submaximal HR values.