Introduction

Exoskeleton assisted walking improves bowel function in people with chronic SCI

Exoskeleton assisted walking improves bowel function in people with chronic SCI

A research participant with spinal cord injury walks in the Ekso GT assisted by a physical therapist
A research participant with spinal cord injury walks in the Ekso GT assisted by a physical therapist

In further validation of the benefits of upright posture and exercise, a team of researchers from the US has reported that the time taken for bowel care and stool form were both improved by exoskeleton-assisted walking. These results were obtained from a clinical trial of exoskeletal-assisted walking (EAW) compared to usual activity (UA) in 49 people with chronic SCI.

“Our results support the idea that walking, and not just standing, may have a beneficial effect on bowel function,” said Dr. Gorman, co-author and chief of the Division of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Maryland Rehabilitation and Orthopaedic Institute. “Our goal is to improve the quality of life of those with chronic spinal cord injury, and these encouraging results will help inform future studies on the emerging field of mobility intervention.”

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Paper published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine: https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10050964