Trainer variability during step training after spinal cord injury: Implications for robotic gait-training device design.

Robotic devices are being developed to automate repetitive aspects of walking retraining after neurological injuries, in part because they might improve the consistency and quality of training. However, it is unclear how inconsistent manual training actually is or whether stepping quality depends strongly on the trainers' manual skill. The objective of this study was to quantify trainer variability of manual skill during step training using body-weight support on a treadmill and assess factors of trainer skill.

Quantification of therapists' manual assistance on the leg during treadmill gait training with partial body-weight support after spinal cord injury.

We are studying the forces applied by therapists when assisting on the legs of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) during body-weight supported treadmill training (BWSTT). This paper presents results from three experiments with three patients and six different therapists. We attached a sensorized orthosis to one of the legs of the patients and measured the forces exerted by the therapists when assisting on that leg through the orthosis.

Locomotor training using body weight support on a treadmill improves mobility in persons with multiple sclerosis: a pilot study.

Rationale: The purpose of this protocol was to investigate the potential benefits and tolerability of locomotor training using body weight support on a treadmill (LTBWST) in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods: Four persons with primarily spinal cord MS and severely impaired ambulation (Expanded Disability Status Scale score 7.0-7.