The effect of an end-effector type of robot-assisted gait training on patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a peripheral nerve injury caused by a post-infectious immune response. Although the prognosis of GBS is relatively good, some patients have severe impairments, such as walking disabilities. Robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) is used to improve gait function in various neurologic disorders; however, no studies have reported its effectiveness in GBS patients. We aimed to evaluate the effect of gait training using an end-effector type robotic device on GBS patients. Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients diagnosed with GBS who received RAGT using Morning Walk® at an inpatient department. The main outcome measures evaluated before and after RAGT were: Medical Research Council scale, Functional Ambulation Categories, Modified Barthel Index score, Rivermead Mobility Index, and 2-minute walk test. Results: In total, 15 patients underwent RAGT 24 times. The mean age was 55.7 (±15.3) years and the average time from onset was 3.9 (±3.6) months. When compared to the baseline, all outcome measures associated with gait function were improved after RAGT. Conclusions: RAGT can improve walking ability in GBS patients. RAGT can be considered as one gait training tool to recover gait function in GBS patients.