The effectiveness of a passive hip exoskeleton in improving walking ability during the rehabilitation of patients with neurological conditions

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the ExoBand, a passive hip orthosis, in improving walking speed as part of a rehabilitation program for patients with neurological gait impairments. Patients and methods: Between March 2022 and December 2022, a total of 25 adults with chronic neurological diseases affecting gait were included. The patients were assigned to either the intervention group (n = 13, Group A), who trained with the ExoBand, or the control group (n = 12, Group B). Both groups underwent 10 rehabilitation sessions over two or three weeks, including gait training on a treadmill and functional exercises. Gait speed was assessed pre- (T0) and post-intervention (T1) using the Walker View system. Results: Of a total of 25 patients included in the study, 12 were male and 13 were female. The mean age was 57.2 ± 12.6 years in Group A and 56.1 ± 12.1 years in Group B, indicating no significant difference ( p = 0.8). Both groups showed significant improvements in gait speed; however, the intervention group demonstrated a significantly greater increase (+14.2% vs. +8.6%, p < 0.05). No adverse events were reported. Additionally, 77% of ExoBand users expressed willingness to use it daily, while 100% would recommend it to other individuals. Conclusion: The present study provides preliminary evidence supporting the use of the soft exoskeleton ExoBand as a potential effective rehabilitation tool for individuals with neurological disorders affecting gait. Our findings demonstrate that incorporating the ExoBand into a structured rehabilitation program leads to notable improvements in walking speed, aligning with the minimal clinically important difference for functional mobility enhancement. These results highlight the potential of passive wearable hip orthoses as a cost-effective and accessible alternative to more complex robotic-assisted gait rehabilitation methods.