RehabMove 2018: A FRAMEWORK OF EXOSKELETON-SKILL-TESTS IN PATIENTS WITH COMPLETE SPINAL CORD INJURY

Abstract

Purpose: For safe application of exoskeletons in people with spinal cord injury (SCI) at home, it is required to have completed an exoskeleton training in which users learn to perform basic and advanced skills. The aim of this study was to develop and test a framework for measuring the progress in the ability to perform basic and advanced skills. In addition, the effect of injury level on the ability to perform exoskeleton skills was assessed.

Methods: Twenty participants with paraplegia were given twenty-four training sessions (1.5 hour) in eight weeks with the Rewalk-exoskeleton. During the 2nd, 4th and 6th training week the Intermediate-skills-test was performed consisting of 27 skills, measured in an hierarchical order of difficulty, until two skills were not achieved. When participants could walk independently, the Final-skills-test, consisting of 20 skills, was performed in the last session.

Results: Seventeen participants completed the training program. Their number of achieved intermediate skills was significantly different between the measurements F(2,30)=14.6, p<.001. Post hoc analysis revealed a significant increase in the achieved intermediate skills from 5±6 at the first to 8±6 at the second and 13±9 at the third Intermediate-skills-test. Thirteen participants met the criteria to perform the Final-skills-test. Their number of successfully performed final skills was 17±2 and 17±2 skills in the first and second time. Injury level did not have an effect on the number of achieved intermediate skills (p=.12) or percentage of participants who could perform the Final-skills-test (p=.29).

Conclusion: The framework measured the progress in performing basic and advanced exoskeleton skills during a training program. Injury level did not influence the learning rate of exoskeleton use.