Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40424255›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Can technology-based gait training result in relevant changes of ambulatory function in people with chronic, neurological diagnoses? A longitudinal, cohort study.

Eveline S Graf, Dino De Bon, Johanna Stahl, Jürgen Degenfellner, Deborah Knechtle, Daniel Zutter, Florian Liberatore, Markus Wirz

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Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Eveline S GrafSchool of Health Sciences, ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4740-8145
Dino De BonVAMED Rehazentrum Zürich Seefeld, Zurich, Switzerland.
Johanna StahlSchool of Management and Law, ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland.
Jürgen DegenfellnerSchool of Health Sciences, ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6886-4583
Deborah KnechtleVAMED Rehazentrum Zürich Seefeld, Zurich, Switzerland.
Daniel ZutterRehaklinik Zihlschlacht, Zihlschlacht, Switzerland.
Florian LiberatoreSchool of Management and Law, ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland.
Markus WirzSchool of Health Sciences, ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo determine whether a six-months technology-based gait training results in relevant changes of ambulatory function in a chronic stage after a neurological event. Further, changes in quality of life will be assessed as well as the willingness to pay for technology-based gait training.

designSingle-center, longitudinal cohort study.

settingOne outpatient center specialized in neurological rehabilitation.

participantsAdults with a chronic neurological diagnosis resulting in residual gait impairments.

interventionSix month of technology-based gait training (with Lokomat, Andago, or C-Mill) with a minimal number of trainings of 10 per month. PRIMARY & SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Walking performance assessed with the 10-meter walk test, 6-minute walk test and functional ambulation category; quality of life assessed with the EQ-5D-3L and WHODAS 2.0; predicted market share and willingness to pay assessed with a choice-based conjoint analysis survey and direct question.

results27 participants completed three months while 20 completed six months of training. Comparing variables at baseline (BL) and after three (M3) and six (M6) months of training, both the walking speed in the 10-meter walk test (BL: 0.46m/s, M3: 0.54 m/s M6: 0.57 m/s) and the distance covered in the 6-minute walk test (BL: 149m, M3: 155m, M6: 159m) showed improvements that were below the clinically relevant change. The quality of life did not indicate a change. The direct willingness to pay was at CHF 80 which resulted in an estimated market share of 55% based on the conjoint analysis.

conclusionThe observed, small changes in ambulatory function in patients with chronic, neurological impairments and the willingness to pay indicates the need to provide technology-based gait training in an outpatient setting.

Indexed as

Exercise TherapyGaitGait Disorders, NeurologicNervous System DiseasesNeurological RehabilitationAdultAgedChronic DiseaseFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleMiddle AgedQuality of LifeWalkingWalk Test

Identifiers

PMID40424255
PMCPMC12111633

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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.