Effects of a soft wearable robotic suit on gait in patients with Parkinson's disease

INTERVENTION: Medical Device : Each rehabilitation session lasted 45 minutes and consisted of 20 minutes of strengthening exercises, a 5‐minute rest period, and 20 minutes of treadmill walking. The strengthening program was delivered individually by an experienced physical therapist and included hamstring stretching, quadriceps stretching, one‐leg bridging, hip abductor strengthening, quadriceps strengthening, bird‐dog exercises, squats, and one‐leg standing. During treadmill training, participants walked at an individualized speed corresponding to a moderate intensity (Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion [RPE] 11–13). A safety harness was used throughout treadmill walking to prevent falls. Consistent with the crossover design, the intervention sequence differed between the two groups. Participants in Group 1 received robotic hip‐flexion assistance during the first intervention period and robotic hip‐extension assistance during the second intervention period. Participants in Group 2 received the interventions in the reverse order. Each intervention period consisted of si Xsessions delivered twice weekly over three weeks. The two intervention periods were separated by a two‐week washout period, resulting in a total intervention duration of eight weeks and 12 rehabilitation sessions. CONDITION: Diseases of the nervous system PRIMARY OUTCOME: Gait speed (10‐meter walk test) SECONDARY OUTCOME: Adverse event Berg Balance Scale (BBS) Gait parameters (Stride length, Step length, Cadence, Single support, Double support, Swing phase, Stance phase, Hip joint range of motion, Knee joint range of motion, Ankle joint range of motion) Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) Timed Up and Go test (TUG) INCLUSION CRITERIA: Male or female patients with Parkinson disease Diagnosis of Parkinson disease at a hospital Modified Hoehn and Yahr stage 2–3 and able to walk Able to undergo assessment of physical function and provide written informed consent, either personally or through a legally authorized representative (guardian)