Robot-assisted gait training with auditory and visual cues in Parkinson's disease: A randomized controlled trial.

Robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) may have beneficial effects on Parkinson's disease (PD); however, the evidence to date is inconsistent. This study compared the effects of RAGT and treadmill training (TT) on gait speed, dual-task gait performance, and changes in resting-state brain functional connectivity in individuals with PD. In this prospective, single-center, randomized controlled trial with a parallel two-group design, 44 participants were randomly allocated to undergo 12 sessions (3 times per week for 4 weeks) of RAGT or TT. The primary outcome was gait speed on the 10-m walk test (10mWT) under comfortable walking conditions. Secondary outcomes included dual-task interference on gait speed, balance, disability scores, fear of falling, freezing of gait, and brain functional connectivity changes. All clinical outcomes were measured before (T0), immediately after (T1), and 1 month after treatment (T2). The mean (SD) age of the participants was 68.1 (8.1) years, and mean disease duration 108.0 (61.5) months. The groups did not significantly differ on the 10mWT (T0-T1, p = 0.726, Cohen's d = 0.133; T0-T2, p = 0.778, Cohen's d = 0.121). We observed a significant time-by-group interaction (F = 3.236, p = 0.045) for cognitive dual-task interference, controlling for confounders. After treatment, coupling was decreased to a greater extent with RAGT than TT between the visual and dorsal attention networks (p = 0.015), between bilateral fronto-parietal networks (p = 0.043), and between auditory and medial temporal networks (p = 0.018). Improvement in cognitive dual-task interference was positively correlated with enhanced visual and medial temporal network coupling overall (r = 0.386, p = 0.029) and with TT (r = 0.545, p = 0.024) but not RAGT (r = 0.151, p = 0.590). RAGT was not superior to intensity-matched TT on improving gait functions in individuals with PD but may be beneficial in improving gait ability under cognitive dual-task conditions. The therapeutic mechanism and key functional connectivity changes associated with improvement may differ between treatment strategies. GOV: #NCT03490578.

Kim H ，Kim E ，Yun SJ ，Kang MG ，Shin HI ，Oh BM ，Seo HG ... -  《-》

Effects of robot-assisted gait training in patients with Parkinson's disease: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Kang MG ，Yun SJ ，Shin HI ，Kim E ，Lee HH ，Oh BM ，Seo HG ... -  《Trials》

Effect of robot-assisted gait training on gait automaticity in Parkinson disease: A prospective, open-label, single-arm, pilot study.

Gait automaticity is reduced in patients with Parkinson disease (PD) due to impaired habitual control. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) on gait automaticity as well as gait speed and balance in patients with PD.This study was a prospective, open-label, single-arm, pilot study. We planned to recruit 12 patients with idiopathic PD. Participants received 12 sessions of RAGT using exoskeleton-type robotic device. Sessions were 45-minute each, 3 days a week, for 4 consecutive weeks using an exoskeleton-type gait robot. The primary outcome was the percentage of dual-task interference measured by the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT) under single and dual-task (cognitive and physical) conditions. Secondary outcomes were the Berg Balance Scale and Korean version of the Falls Efficacy Scale-International. All measures were evaluated before treatment (T0), after treatment (T1), and 1-month post-treatment (T2).Twelve patients were enrolled and 1 dropped out. Finally, 11 patients with idiopathic PD were analyzed. The mean age of 11 patients (5 males) was 66.46 ± 5.66 years, and disease duration was 112.91 ± 50.19 months. The Hoehn and Yahr stages were 2.5 in 8 patients and 3 in 3 patients. Linear mixed-effect model analysis showed a significant change over time only in single-task gait speed of the 10MWT (P = .007), but not in dual-task gait speed, dual-task interferences, and Korean version of the Falls Efficacy Scale-International. Cognitive dual-task interference significantly increased (P = .026) at T1, but not at T2 (P = .203). No significant changes were observed for physical dual-task interference at T1 and T2. Single-task gait speed of the 10MWT was significantly increased at T1 (P = .041), but not at T2 (P = .445). There were no significant changes in the dual-task gait speed of 10MWT. A significant improvement was observed in Berg Balance Scale score at T1 and T2 (P = .004 and P = .024, respectively).In this pilot study, despite improvement in walking speed and balance, gait automaticity in patients with PD was not improved by RAGT using an exoskeleton-type robot. Additional therapeutic components may be needed to improve gait automaticity using RAGT in patients with PD.

Yun SJ ，Lee HH ，Lee WH ，Lee SH ，Oh BM ，Seo HG ... -  《-》

Clinical effects of robot-assisted gait training and treadmill training for Parkinson's disease. A randomized controlled trial.

Although gait disorders strongly contribute to perceived disability in people with Parkinson's disease, clinical trials have failed to identify which task-oriented gait training method can provide the best benefit. Freezing of gait remains one of the least investigated and most troublesome symptoms. We aimed to compare the effects of robot-assisted gait training and treadmill training on endurance and gait capacity in people with Parkinson disease; the secondary aim was to compare the effect of the treatments in people with freezing and/or severe gait disability and assess changes in overall disease-related disability and quality of life. Outpatients with Parkinson disease (Hoehn and Yahr stage≥2) were randomly assigned to receive 20 sessions of 45-min gait training assisted by an end-effector robotic device (G-EO System) or treadmill training. Outcome assessments were the 6-min walk test, Timed Up and Go test, Freezing of Gait Questionnaire, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scales and Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire-39 administered before (T0) and after treatment (T1). We included 96 individuals with Parkinson disease: 48 with robot-assisted gait training and 48 treadmill training. Both groups showed significant improvement in all outcomes. As compared with baseline, with robot-assisted gait training and treadmill training, endurance and gait capacity were enhanced by 18% and 12%, respectively, and motor symptoms and quality of life were improved by 17% and 15%. The maximum advantage was observed with the Freezing of Gait Questionnaire score, which decreased by 20% after either treatment. On post-hoc analysis, dependent walkers benefited more than independent walkers from any gait training, whereas freezers gained more from robot-assisted than treadmill training in terms of freezing reduction. Repetitive intensive gait training is an effective treatment for people with Parkinson disease and can increase endurance and gait velocity, especially for those with severe walking disability. Advantages are greater with robot-assisted gait training than treadmill training for individuals with freezing of gait - related disability.

Capecci M ，Pournajaf S ，Galafate D ，Sale P ，Le Pera D ，Goffredo M ，De Pandis MF ，Andrenelli E ，Pennacchioni M ，Ceravolo MG ，Franceschini M ... -  《-》

Effect of robot-assisted gait training on motor dysfunction in Parkinson's patients:A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Jiang X ，Zhou J ，Chen Q ，Xu Q ，Wang S ，Yuan L ，Zhang D ，Bi H ，Li H ... -  《-》