Effects of training with a soft wearable robot (Myosuit®) on the walking ability of patients with chronic stroke

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of gait training using Myosuit ® , a soft wearable robot, on patients with chronic stroke. This randomized controlled study was conducted from April 2022 to September 2022. Thirty patients with hemiparesis, aged > 19 years, and functional ambulatory category scale (FAC) between 2 and 4 were enrolled. Patients were randomly assigned to either the Myosuit ® group or the control group. Both groups underwent the same training sessions for 50 min, 10 times within 5 weeks. Each session comprised warmup, main training, and cooldown exercises. Training sessions comprised of two protocols, walking or balance, and each in easy, medium, and hard levels according to intensity. FAC, 10-m walking test, timed up and go test, motricity index of the lower extremity, 6 min walking test, and Berg balance scale was measured to assess their ambulation function. Gait Analysis Training System was used to evaluate patients’ kinematic and kinetic gait parameters. All outcomes were measured before and after the intervention. No significant difference in the baseline characteristics was found, and the difference before, and after the training was not significantly different between the two groups. The subgroup analysis according to the FAC scale showed that Myosuit ® group of patients with FAC 4 showed significant improvements in the 10-m walking test, Berg balance scale. and gait velocity after the training. The results imply that gait training using Myosuit ® , a soft wearable robot, might be effective in improving gait function in patients with better gait function.