Satoshi Hirano, MD, DMSc, Eiichi Saitoh, MD, DMSc, Shigeo Tanabe, RPT, PhD,
Masaki Katoh, RPT, Yasuhiro Shimizu, MD, DMSc, Kanan Yatsuya, MD,
Hirotaka Tanaka, MD, DMSc, Hitoshi Kagaya, MD, DMSc, Ken Ishihara, MD,
Akihito Uno, PO
Jpn J Compr Rehabil Sci 6: 21-26, 2015
Objective: To evaluate the utility of a gait-assisting
robot, Wearable Power-Assist Locomotor (WPAL), in
gait reconstruction for patients with paraplegia.
Subjects and Methods: The subjects were 12 patients
with paraplegia who were able to walk with minimum
assistance, under supervision, or without any
assistance and supervision using a bilateral kneeankle-
foot orthoses with a medial single hip joint or
WPAL. The duration and distance of walking were
measured and the required level of assistance was
evaluated with the Functional Ambulation Category
(FAC) scale as the subjects walked at a comfortable
speed with the orthoses or WPAL.
Results: The duration and distance of walking with
the WPAL were significantly longer in 8 and 11
subjects, respectively, compared with use of the
orthoses. FAC scores were 2, 3 or 4 with orthoses and
4 using the WPAL, indicating less assistance was
needed with the WPAL.
Conclusion: The WPAL enabled patients with paraplegia
to walk for a longer time and longer distance
with less assistance.
Key words: robot, paraplegia, gait reconstruction, practical walking, medial system