Safety of exoskeleton-assisted walking in SCI inpatient rehabilitation

Guidance for clinicians considering exoskeleton use for locomotor training during inpatient rehabilitation is limited. The objectives of this study were to explore the safety and feasibility of using exoskeletons during inpatient rehabilitation after spinal cord injury (SCI). Twelve participants were enrolled in a study where it was determined that exoskeleton-assisted locomotor training can be safe and feasible for inpatient use. The most frequent adverse event was systolic hypotension (orthostatic hypotension). More than half the participants were able to walk with minimal assistance by 6 walking sessions, and more than three-quarters of the participants were able to increase the intensity during the walking sessions. The total number of sessions was correlated with age and number of steps taken. The authors offer five clinical recommendations when using exoskeletons as locomotor training during inpatient rehabilitation following SCI.