A group of researchers from New Jersey examined information about the effect of robotic exoskeleton devices on the recovery of ambulation in people who have had acquired brain injuries, putting forth a systematic framework for evaluating such devices that is required for thorough research studies. An open-access paper titled “Lower extremity robotic exoskeleton devices for overground ambulation recovery in acquired brain injury–A review” was released on May 25th, 2023, in Frontiers in Neurorobotics.
Studies (N=57) divided into three pie charts based on population (cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, stroke) and further divided based on study type. Image Credit: Kessler Foundation
The authors include Eliana Legelen, MA, of Montclair State University, Kiran Karunakaran, Ph.D., Sai Pamula, Caitlyn Bach, Soha Saleh, Ph.D., and Karen Nolan, Ph.D., all from the Center for Mobility and Rehabilitation Engineering Research at Kessler Foundation.
Cerebral palsy, traumatic brain damage, and stroke were all considered forms of acquired brain injury. The evaluation concentrated on 57 published research that employed wearable robotic exoskeletons for overground training. The publication offers a thorough analysis of clinical and pre-clinical studies on how different devices can be used therapeutically.
Despite rapid progress in robotic exoskeleton design and technology, the efficacy of such devices is not fully understood. This review lays the foundation to understand the knowledge gaps that currently exist in robotic rehabilitation research. There’s also wide variability in other factors that affect the trajectory of recovery, including the timing, duration, dosing, and intensity of training in these devices.
Kiran Karunakaran, Ph.D., Study Author and Research Scientist, Center for Mobility and Rehabilitation Engineering Research, Kessler Foundation
According to co-author Karen J. Nolan, Ph.D., associate director of the Center for Mobility and Rehabilitation Engineering Research and director of the Acquired Brain Injury Mobility Laboratory, creating a framework for future research necessitates a thorough approach based on diagnosis, stage of recovery, and domain.
Through this approach, we will find the optimal ways to use lower extremity robotic exoskeletons to improve mobility in individuals with acquired brain injury.
Karen Nolan, Ph.D., Study Author, Center for Mobility and Rehabilitation Engineering Research, Kessler Foundation
Dr. Karunakaran noted, “It is important to note that our review is unique in presenting both the downstream (functional, biomechanical, physiological) and upstream (cortical) evaluations after rehabilitation using various robotic devices for different types of acquired brain injury. Each device needs to be evaluated by domain in each population and throughout all stages of recovery. This is the necessary scope for determining the response to treatment.”
Journal Reference:
Karunakaran, K. K., et al. (2023) Lower extremity robotic exoskeleton devices for overground ambulation recovery in acquired brain injury—A review. Frontiers in Neurorobotics. doi:10.3389/fnbot.2023.1014616