ArticleJournal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation2018
Overground walking with a robotic exoskeleton elicits trunk muscle activity in people with high-thoracic motor-complete spinal cord injury.
Article in Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 28 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
28 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Robotic-assisted gait training for spinal cord injury neuropathic pain: A systematic review.The journal of spinal cord medicine · 2026Pooled it
- Comparative efficacy of robotic exoskeleton and conventional gait training in patients with spinal cord injury: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation · 2025Pooled it
- Exercise therapy can effectively improve trunk performance and sitting balance in spinal cord injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2025Pooled it
- Overground robotic training effects on walking and secondary health conditions in individuals with spinal cord injury: systematic review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation · 2022Pooled it
- Systematic review on wearable lower-limb exoskeletons for gait training in neuromuscular impairments.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation · 2021Pooled it
- Effects of Robot-Assisted Gait Therapy on Urodynamic Changes in the Subacute Phase After Spinal Cord Injury: A Prospective Study.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2026Trial
- Exoskeleton gait training to improve lower urinary tract function in people with motor-complete spinal cord injury: A randomized pilot trial.Journal of rehabilitation medicine · 2021Trial
- Energy cost and psychological impact of robotic-assisted gait training in people with spinal cord injury: effect of two different types of devices.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2021Trial
- Exoskeleton-assisted walking improves pulmonary function and walking parameters among individuals with spinal cord injury: a randomized controlled pilot study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation · 2021Trial
- Trial
- Robotic Rehabilitation in Spinal Cord Injury: Neurophysiological Basis and Severity-Based Clinical Framework.Brain sciences · 2026Review
- Article
- Case Report: Efficacy of transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation combined with overground robotic-assisted gait training in chronic incomplete spinal cord injury.Frontiers in human neuroscience · 2026Article
- Cardiac Function and Fatigue During Exoskeleton-Assisted Sit-to-Stand Maneuver and Walking in People with Stroke with Moderate to Severe Gait Disability: A Pilot Cross-Sectional Study.Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Upper limb muscle strength and wheelchair-related abilities following an exoskeleton-assisted walking programme in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury: An exploratory study.Journal of rehabilitation medicine · 2024Article
- Trunk muscle activity and kinematics during boxing and battle rope exercise in people with motor-complete spinal cord injury.The journal of spinal cord medicine · 2024Article
- Gait Training with Robotic Exoskeleton Assisted Rehabilitation System in Patients with Incomplete Traumatic and Non-Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: A Pilot Study and Review of Literature.Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology · 2023Article
- Body Representation in Patients with Severe Spinal Cord Injury: A Pilot Study on the Promising Role of Powered Exoskeleton for Gait Training.Journal of personalized medicine · 2022Article
- Sensors and Actuation Technologies in Exoskeletons: A Review.Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Review
- Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training in People With Spinal Cord Injury: A Cross-Sectional Survey.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThe trunk muscles are critical for postural control. Recent neurophysiological studies have revealed sparing of trunk muscle function in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) classified with thoracic or cervical motor-complete injuries. These findings raise the possibility for recruiting and retraining this spared trunk function through rehabilitation. Robotic gait training devices may provide a means to promote trunk muscle activation. Thus, the objective of this study was to characterize and compare the activation of the trunk muscles during walking with two robotic gait training devices (Ekso and Lokomat) in people with high thoracic motor-complete SCI.
methodsParticipants with chronic motor-complete paraplegia performed 3 speed-matched walking conditions: Lokomat-assisted walking, Ekso-assisted walking overground, and Ekso-assisted walking on a treadmill. Surface electromyography (EMG) signals were recorded bilaterally from the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), and erector spinae (ES) muscles.
resultsGreater recruitment of trunk muscle EMG was elicited with Ekso-assisted walking compared to the Lokomat. Similar levels of trunk EMG activation were observed between Ekso overground and Ekso on the treadmill, indicating that differences between Ekso and Lokomat could not be attributed to the use of a hand-held gait aid. The level of trunk EMG activation during Lokomat walking was not different than that recorded during quiescent supine lying.
conclusionsEkso-assisted walking elicits greater activation of trunk muscles compared to Lokomat-assisted walking, even after controlling for the use of hand-held assistive devices. The requirement of the Ekso for lateral weight-shifting in order to activate each step could lead to better postural muscle activation.
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