Feasibility and safety study of wearable cyborg Hybrid Assistive Limb for pediatric patients with cerebral palsy and spinal cord disorders.

Introduction: The wearable cyborg Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) is the world's first cyborg-type wearable robotic device, and it assists the user's voluntary movements and facilitates muscle activities. However, since the minimum height required for using the HAL is 150 cm, a smaller HAL (2S size) has been newly developed for pediatric use. This study aimed to (1) examine the feasibility and safety of a protocol for treatments with HAL (2S size) in pediatric patients and (2) explore the optimal method for assessing the efficacy of HAL.

Short-Term Outcome of Rehabilitation Program with Hybrid Assistive Limb after Tendon Lengthening in Patients with Cerebral Palsy.

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the short-term outcomes of a rehabilitation program with the Hybrid Assistive Limb® after soft tissue lengthening in young patients with cerebral palsy. We assessed six patients with cerebral palsy who underwent soft tissue surgery followed by gait training using the Hybrid Assistive Limb®. Clinical assessments were conducted preoperatively, before, immediately after, and at 1, 2, and 3 months after gait training.

Voluntary-assisted Upper Limb Training for Severe Cerebral Palsy Using Robotics Devices and Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation: Three Case Reports.

Background: Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) improves the motor function of paralyzed upper limbs of adults after stroke. However, in patients with severe spastic cerebral palsy (CP), the use of CIMT is not warranted. Our aim was to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of repetitive voluntary-assisted upper limb training (VAUT) for three patients with severe CP using a combination of robotics [Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL)] and functional electrical stimulation [Integrated Volitional Control Electrical Stimulation (IVES)].

Gait training using a hybrid assistive limb after botulinum toxin treatment for cerebral palsy: a case report.

[Purpose] Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL; Cyberdyne, Tsukuba, Japan) is a wearable robot that assists patients based on their voluntary movements. We report gait training with HAL after botulinum toxin treatment for spasticity of the lower limb in cerebral palsy (CP). [Participant and Methods] The participant was a 36 year-old male with spastic diplegia due to periventricular leukomalacia, with Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level II.

Effect of the Hybrid Assistive Limb on the Gait Pattern for Cerebral Palsy.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most frequent childhood motor disability. Achieving ambulation or standing in children with CP has been a major goal of physical therapy. Recently, robot-assisted gait training using the Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) has been effective in improving walking ability in patients with CP.

Robot-assisted gait training using a very small-sized Hybrid Assistive Limb® for pediatric cerebral palsy: A case report.

Purpose: Gait parameters and gross motor function improve after 12 sessions of small-sized Hybrid Assistive Limb® (S-HAL) training in adult cerebral palsy (CP) patients. However, there are no reports on repetitive robot-assisted gait training using the newly developed very small-sized HAL (2S-HAL). This study aimed to examine the effect of using 2S-HAL on a pediatric CP patient.