A recent scientific article published in the Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation details the results of a rehabilitation trial using HANK, a lower limb robotic ambulatory exoskeleton developed by Gogoa Mobility Robots. The trial was conducted on paraplegic patients with spinal cord injuries (SCI) of less than 1 year since injury at the Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos of Toledo.
The study was a prospective, randomized, comparative study, and the results provide evidence of the safety and feasibility of using Hank for gait training in SCI patients. The trial involved two groups of participants, an intervention group (IG) and a control group (CG), with both groups undergoing a walking training program. The results showed that all the clinical and functional variables assessed improved after treatment in both groups, but the IG participants who were trained with the robotic exoskeleton showed greater improvement in the WISCI-II (Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury) scores and needed less external assistance.
The study suggests that using Hank for gait training can provide significant benefits to patients with SCI in terms of improving their walking ability and reducing their dependence on external assistance. The authors of the study recommend further multi-center efficacy trials with larger sample sizes to confirm the mechanisms responsible for the improvements seen in exoskeleton-driven interventions.
In conclusion, Gogoa Mobility Robots is working towards improving the lives of people through technology and neurological rehabilitation, as demonstrated by the promising results of the trial using Hank.
Thanks to participants and the staff from Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos de Toledo.
Co-authors: Ángel Gil-Agudo, Álvaro Megía-García, José Luis Pons, Isabel Sinovas-Alonso, Natalia Comino-Suárez, Vicente Lozano-Berrio & Antonio J. del-Ama.