Sustained effects of once-a-week gait training with hybrid assistive limb for rehabilitation in chronic stroke: case study

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the accumulated and sustained effects of once-a-week gait training with a powered exoskeleton suit, Hybrid Assistive Limb, in a subject with chronic stroke. [Subject and Methods] The subject was a woman in her early sixties who had stroke onset approximately 5 years ago. A single-case ABA design was used. A 2-month baseline period was followed by an 8-week period of weekly gait training and a subsequent 2-month follow-up period. Throughout the study period, she underwent conventional physiotherapy. Outcome measures were the 10-meter walking test, timed up and go test, functional reach test, two-step test, and Berg Balance Scale. [Results] Significant improvements were seen in all outcome measures during the gait training period. Improvements in all outcome measures except walking speed were maintained at follow-up. [Conclusion] Continued gait training with Hybrid Assistive Limb once a week can improve gait and balance performance in patients with chronic stroke, and these improvements are maintained at least for two months.