Robotic Devices for Overground Gait and Balance Training

Abstract

In recent years, we have seen the emergence of robotic technologies that focus on assisting individuals during overground gait and balance therapy following neurological injury and diseases. These devices range in complexity, depending on the type of assistance they provide. For example, at the single joint level, exoskeletons are now being used to supplement limb propulsion as a means of compensating for weakness and poor coordination. At the whole-body level, active body-weight support systems are being used to enhance postural stability as well as compensate for bilateral weakness during gait and balance training.

One of the key aspects of using robots that support overground gait and balance training is that they allow individuals the ability to practice the types of activities they will need to be competent in before returning to their home and into the community. The ability to walk overground, practice standing up and sitting down, and other functional tasks are critical components of achieving functional independence yet are often difficult to safely practice for patients with significant levels of impairment. Not only is the patient at risk for injury but so too is the therapist. The integration of robotic technologies into neurorehabilitation can play a critical role in the safe and effective delivery of gait and balance therapy.

The focus of this chapter is to present some of the newest robotic technologies that support overground gait and balance training, discuss the potential advantages and disadvantages of each, and provide a framework for how each may be useful in the clinical setting. Since the area of rehabilitation robotics is quickly expanding with many devices being developed in laboratories around the world, it is not possible for us to detail every technology. Instead, we will highlight a few of the devices and use them for providing a rationale for their usefulness in neurorehabilitation.