Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33526065›Full record

SynthesisJournal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation2021

Systematic review on wearable lower-limb exoskeletons for gait training in neuromuscular impairments.

Antonio Rodríguez-Fernández, Joan Lobo-Prat, Josep M Font-Llagunes

2 registry-linked trialsOpen access · goldAbstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 131 papers, 14 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
131citing papers in PubMed, 14 pooled it
24.8field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT06500611 narecruitingnot on this mapstarted 2024, after this paper: background citation

Combined Effects Of Sensory Integration And Vestibular Exercises On Dizziness, Fall Risk And Quality Of Life In Post-Stroke Patients

TypeinterventionalSponsorRiphah International UniversityRan2024 to 2025Enrolled38ConditionsPost StrokeArmsSensory Integration and Vestibular Exercise with Routine Physical Therapy, Vestibular Exercise with Routine Physical Therapy
NCT07057700 nanot yet recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2025, after this paper: background citation

Investigating the Mechanisms of Welwalk Robot in Restoring Motor Function of the Lower Extremities in Stroke Patients

TypeinterventionalSponsorRuijin HospitalRan2025 to 2027Enrolled38ConditionsStroke, Walking ImpairmentArmswelwalk training, physical therapy
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

131 citing papers in PubMed, 14 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 401 citations in OpenAlex.

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71 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Antonio Rodríguez-FernándezBiomechanical Engineering Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Research Center for Biomedical Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Diagonal 647, 08028, Barcelona, Spain. antonio.rodriguez.fernandez@upc.edu.ORCID 0000-0002-6272-8326
Joan Lobo-PratBiomechanical Engineering Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Research Center for Biomedical Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Diagonal 647, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.ORCID 0000-0003-4197-1391
Josep M Font-LlagunesBiomechanical Engineering Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Research Center for Biomedical Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Diagonal 647, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-7192-2980
Clínica Diagonal · ESInstitut de Robòtica i Informàtica Industrial · ESSant Joan de Déu Research Foundation · ES

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Gait disorders can reduce the quality of life for people with neuromuscular impairments. Therefore, walking recovery is one of the main priorities for counteracting sedentary lifestyle, reducing secondary health conditions and restoring legged mobility. At present, wearable powered lower-limb exoskeletons are emerging as a revolutionary technology for robotic gait rehabilitation. This systematic review provides a comprehensive overview on wearable lower-limb exoskeletons for people with neuromuscular impairments, addressing the following three questions: (1) what is the current technological status of wearable lower-limb exoskeletons for gait rehabilitation?, (2) what is the methodology used in the clinical validations of wearable lower-limb exoskeletons?, and (3) what are the benefits and current evidence on clinical efficacy of wearable lower-limb exoskeletons? We analyzed 87 clinical studies focusing on both device technology (e.g., actuators, sensors, structure) and clinical aspects (e.g., training protocol, outcome measures, patient impairments), and make available the database with all the compiled information. The results of the literature survey reveal that wearable exoskeletons have potential for a number of applications including early rehabilitation, promoting physical exercise, and carrying out daily living activities both at home and the community. Likewise, wearable exoskeletons may improve mobility and independence in non-ambulatory people, and may reduce secondary health conditions related to sedentariness, with all the advantages that this entails. However, the use of this technology is still limited by heavy and bulky devices, which require supervision and the use of walking aids. In addition, evidence supporting their benefits is still limited to short-intervention trials with few participants and diversity among their clinical protocols. Wearable lower-limb exoskeletons for gait rehabilitation are still in their early stages of development and randomized control trials are needed to demonstrate their clinical efficacy.

Indexed as

Exoskeleton DeviceActivities of Daily LivingExercise TherapyGaitGait Disorders, NeurologicHumansLower ExtremityQuality of LifeResearch DesignRoboticsTreatment OutcomeGait rehabilitationLower-limbNeuromuscular impairmentSpinal cord injuryStrokeWearable exoskeleton

Identifiers

PMID33526065
PMCPMC7852187
OpenAlexW3107239624

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.