Effects of Gait Training Using a Hybrid Assistive Limb® (HAL®) on Quality of Life and Mood States and Suitability of HAL for Recovery Phase Stroke Patients: A Randomized Controlled Study

• Published in: Rigakuryoho Kagaku Vol. 31; no. 5; pp. 733 - 742
• Main Authors: WATANABE, Hiroki, GOTO, Ryohei, TANAKA, Naoki, KANAMORI, Takeshige, YANAGI, Hisako
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: The Society of Physical Therapy Science 2016
• Subjects: Hybrid Assistive Limb; quality of life; stroke
• ISSN: 1341-1667; 2434-2807
• DOI: 10.1589/rika.31.733

[Purpose] To investigate the effects of Hybrid Assistive Limb® (HAL®) gait training on the quality of life and mood states, and its suitability for recovery phase stroke patients. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-four patients with stroke completed the randomized controlled trial. Over 4 weeks, all the patients received twelve 20-min sessions of either HAL or conventional gait training (CGT). The outcome measures were evaluated prior to the training and after the 12 sessions. [Results] The HAL group showed a significant improvement in the Functional Ambulation Category compared with those who received CGT. However, some patients were not suited to HAL training. [Conclusion] The results obtained in this trial suggest that a gait training program based on HAL may improve independent walking more efficiently than one based on CGT. However, severe hemiplegic patients whose nerve signals are not detected by HAL or patients with complicated higher brain dysfunction are not suited to HAL training.