Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41214797›Full record

SynthesisSystematic reviews2025

Effects of an exoskeleton robot on motor function in patients with spinal cord injuries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Shuai Guo, Yican Yang, Mutong Wang, Dezheng Wang, Yang Zhang, Qing Wang, Yunqing Deng

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Systematic reviews, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Trial
  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Article
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

7 authors.

Shuai GuoRehabilitation and Physical Therapy Department, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated Hospital, Jinan, China.
Yican YangShandong University Cheeloo College of Medicine, Jinan, China.
Mutong WangShandong University Cheeloo College of Medicine, Jinan, China.
Dezheng WangRehabilitation and Physical Therapy Department, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated Hospital, Jinan, China.
Yang ZhangRehabilitation and Physical Therapy Department, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated Hospital, Jinan, China. zhangyang982003@163.com.ORCID 0000-0002-3086-2432
Qing WangRehabilitation and Physical Therapy Department, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated Hospital, Jinan, China. 13505416211@139.com.
Yunqing DengCollege of Special Education and Rehabilitation, of Binzhou Medical University, No. 346 Guanhai Road, Laishan District, Yantai, 264003, Shandong, China. 1239519461@qq.com.

Funding

Graduate Education and Teaching Reform Project of Qilu University of Technology（Shandong Academy of Sciences）in 2023，and Talent Training and Teaching Reform Project of Qilu University of Technology in 2022 under Grant No. P202204Research and Innovation Team Project of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated Hospital No. 2024-72)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities No. 2022JC013the Introduce Innovative Teams of 2021 "New High School 20 Items" Project No. 2021GXRC071the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province of China No. ZR2021MH023the Program for Youth Innovative Research Team in the University of Shandong Province in China No. 2019KJN010
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the impact of exoskeleton robotic training on motor function in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients.

methodsWe systematically reviewed randomized and non-randomized controlled trials from five databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science) up to September 2025.

resultsA total of 13 trials with 247 participants were included. Results showed that exoskeleton robotic training significantly improved several motor function measures: the 6-min walk test (6-MWT) (0.75 [95% CI = 0.42, 1.08]), 10-m walk test (0.91 [95% CI = 0.49, 1.33]), Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury (WISCI-II) (0.76 [95% CI = 0.36, 1.15]), timed up and go (TUG) test (- 1.05 [95% CI =  - 1.50, - 0.60]), and lower extremity motor score (LEMS) (0.65 [95% CI = 0.40, 0.90]). Subgroup analysis indicated that improvements in walking speed were consistent regardless of injury duration (> 6 vs. < 6 months). In contrast, when stratified by cumulative training time, a non-linear dose-response relationship was observed, with the greatest improvement occurring at 1000-2000 min of training, while both lower and higher doses yielded attenuated effects. Although there was high heterogeneity in some measures (6-MWT, 10-MWT, WISCI-II, TUG), excluding individual studies did not significantly alter the findings, indicating stable results.

conclusionExoskeleton robotics significantly improves motor function in SCI patients, with walking function benefiting both within and beyond 6 months after injury, although the effects of ultra-early (< 3 months) versus early (3-6 months) intervention remain unclear, with maximal improvements observed at medium intensity (cumulative training duration of 1000-2000 min).

Indexed as

Exoskeleton DeviceRoboticsSpinal Cord InjuriesHumansLower ExtremityRecovery of FunctionWalkingWalk TestExoskeleton robotMeta-analysisRehabilitation trainingSpinal cord injury

Identifiers

PMID41214797
PMCPMC12604300

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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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.