Robot-Assisted Gait Training in Parkinson’s Disease Rehabilitation: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background- Mobility and balance impairments are among the most significant effects of Parkinson's disease. This study aimed to assess whether a rehabilitation program using robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) effectively improves walking, balance, and quality of life in Parkinson's patients. Method- Thirty-one patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease at Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) stages 2-3 underwent 45-minute treatment sessions three times a week for three months of RAGT. Patients were evaluated before (T0) and after (T1) the intervention. Outcome measures included gait via the Time Up and Go Test (TUG), balance through the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and quality of life assessed by the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). Results- Twenty-four patients (20 males, 4 females), with an average age of 62.06±4.75 years and BMI of 24.25±1.64, completed the study. The mean disease severity was 2.44±0.39, and the average illness duration was 4.59±1.58 years. Significant improvements with 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) were observed after the intervention in the TUG (CI = 1.08-1.68; p=0.0001), BBS (CI = 0.68-1.56; p=0.0001), and UPDRS (CI = 2.03-3.38; p=0.0001). Some patients reported minor side effects such as dizziness, fatigue, and muscle cramps. Conclusion- This pilot study indicates that RAGT may enhance walking ability, balance, and quality of life in individuals with Parkinson's disease.