A new study says a wide range of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) benefited from using the EksoGT exoskeleton.
The study, published in the International Spinal Cord Society’s Spinal Cord journal, included participants who had tetraplegia or paraplegia from SCI. The participant group included those who were newly injured as well as those who had been injured significantly longer ago, and those with incomplete or complete injuries.
The research was described as “Pan-Euro” in a news announcement from Ekso Bionics Holdings, manufacturer of the EksoGT.
Thomas Looby, president/CEO of Ekso Bionics, said in the announcement, “The Pan-Euro study is one of the first to evaluate wearable exoskeletons in a heterogeneous SCI population, providing additional insights across a wider range of patients. Previous exoskeleton studies focused on complete SCI.
“In combination with the 35 U.S. studies and 25 EMEA studies conducted with the EksoGT, we are paving the way on quantifying the benefits of exoskeleton gait rehabilitation and ultimately redefining rehabilitation for a broader range of patients with SCI.”
Researchers said the study showed that a wider range of SCI patients could improve their gait function and balance function by using the EksoGT.
Carsten Bach Baunsgaard, M.D., Clinic for Spinal Cord Injuries, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, is the published paper’s lead author.
“The Pan-Euro study shows that the EksoGT is safe and feasible for persons with SCI with different levels and severity of injuries and that it may have potential benefits in those with incomplete SCI on gait and balance function,” Baunsgaard said.
The study included 60 participants, 52 of whom completed at least 16 of 24 gait-training sessions using the EksoGT. Study participants used the EksoGT for eight weeks.
