Robotic hip-assistive device helps patients walk after stroke

This study aimed to see if using a hip-assistive robotic device after stroke can improve patients’ ability to walk and strengthen the legs. The main finding of the study was that gait training with the hip-assistive robotic exoskeleton improved walking speed in patients after a stroke.

Improving walking ability is a high-rated priority for patients after a stroke. Walking is important for independence, mental health and preventing other complications such as loss of muscle and bed sores. Gait training is a type of physical therapy that is aimed at improving a patient’s ability to stand and walk.

The Honda Stride Management Assist (SMA) is a hip-assistive robotic device that sits around the hips like a belt. It goes down the thigh and around the knees. A motor helps lift each leg at the thigh in order to help patients with weak leg muscles to walk.

It is unknown whether the SMA can improve walking in patients after stroke.

This study included 50 patients who had a stroke and had difficulty walking. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either gait training with the SMA or to receive standard gait training. Gait training was delivered in 18 sessions over 6-8 weeks.

After gait training was completed, the SMA users had greater improvements in their walking speed compared to those who had standard gait training. SMA users also took more steps during therapy days compared to the standard gait training group. There was a greater improvement in walking endurance in SMA users (46%) compared to the standard treatment group (35.7%). Improvements in balance were also seen in the SMA group.

The authors concluded that gait training with SMA improved walking speed in patients after a stroke.

This study was funded by Honda R&D Co., Ltd, the developer of the SMA. The study population is quite small. Larger studies are needed to determine the effectiveness of SMA.