Effects of gait training using the Hybrid Assistive Limb® in recovery-phase stroke patients: A 2-month follow-up, randomized, controlled study

BACKGROUND: Gait training using the Hybrid Assistive Limb (R) (HAL (R)) may have beneficial effects on post-stroke gait function and independent walking. However, the long-term and medium-term efficacies of gait training using HAL (R) in stroke patients remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: To compare the medium-term efficacy of gait training using a single-leg version of the Hybrid Assistive Limb (R) (HAL (R)) on the paretic side with conventional gait training (CGT) in recovery-phase stroke patients. METHODS: Twenty-four post-stroke participants (HAL (R) group: n = 12, CGT group: n = 12) completed the trial. Over 4 weeks, all participants received twelve 20-min sessions of either HAL (R) (using the single-leg version of HAL (R) on the paretic side) or conventional (performed by skilled and experienced physical therapists) gait training. Outcome measures were evaluated prior to training, after 12 sessions, and at 8 and 12 weeks after intervention initiation. Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) was the primary outcome measure. RESULTS: The HAL (R) group showed significant improvement in FAC after 12 sessions, and at 8 and 12 weeks compared to the conventional group (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that a gait training program based on HAL (R) may improve independent walking more efficiently than CGT at 1 and 2 months after intervention.