The effectiveness of a novel cable-driven gait trainer (Robowalk) combined with conventional physiotherapy compared to conventional physiotherapy alone following stroke: a randomised controlled trial

Abstract

There is increasing interest in gait training devices to improve walking ability in people following stroke. This randomised controlled trial aimed to compare the effectiveness of the Robowalk, a novel cable-driven gait trainer combined with conventional physiotherapy to conventional physiotherapy alone in improving walking speed, endurance, balance, functional outcomes, and quality of life in people following stroke. Rehabilitation inpatients within 3 months following stroke (n = 40) were randomised to standard care with conventional physiotherapy ('control,' n = 20) and cable-driven gait trainer combined with conventional physiotherapy ('intervention,' n = 20). All participants received 1 ..