physioscience 2025; 21(S 03): S29-S30
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1812418
Abstracts
Poster/Posters

Feasibility of assessing aerobic capacity during robotic-assisted gait training

Authors

  • J Christen

    1   Zentrum für Ergo- und Physiotherapie, HOCH Health Ostschweiz – Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St.Gallen, Switzerland

  • M Wirz

    2   Forschung und Entwicklung Physiotherapie, ZHAW – Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Zürich, Switzerland

  • D Knechtle

    3   Rehazentrum Zürich Seefeld, VAMED Management und Service Schweiz AG, Zürich Seefeld, Switzerland

  • E Graf

    4   Institut für Physiotherapie, THAW – Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften, Zürich, Switzerland
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Background People with neurological diagnoses in a chronic stage have a reduced life expectancy due to physical inactivity. Especially in severely affected patients the sedentary lifestyle leads to deconditioning and therefore a higher mortality risk. One method to promote physical activity in neurological patients is robotic-assisted gait training (RAGT). However, effects of RAGT on peak aerobic capacity (VO2peak) are mostly unknown in the targeted population. Most existing evidence on RAGT in relation to aerobic capacity focuses on patients in a subacute stage and inpatient setting. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the feasibility of an experimental setup working with patients in a chronic stage and in the outpatient setting regarding its acceptance and safety.

Method A mono-centred feasibility study with RAGT and two measuring points was conducted. Patients with a neurological condition in a chronic stage who were non-functional ambulators underwent a six-week RAGT programme and VO2peak was assessed by spiroergometry. Feasibility criteria were safety, patient satisfaction, therapists’ opinions, recruitment, inclusion, adherence, compliance and drop-out-rate.

Results During eight months, four participants were included. Rates for recruitment (71%), inclusion (80%), adherence (92%) and compliance (87%) were high. There were no dropouts and patient satisfaction was good. No safety concerns were detected. Insufficient standardisation of exercise testing during RAGT and training intensity were identified.

Conclusion Despite the reported rates, which were acceptable and seem promising, only a few patients could be enrolled over the duration of the study due to the mono-centred design. Further the identified methodological issues require modification. Therefore, we recommend the conduction of a multi-centre pilot study to further clarify feasibility, with modification of the assessment of VO2peak and better evaluation of training intensity which will enable future studies on an expanded scale. This comprehensive work could have a clinically relevant impact by establishing RAGT as a standard intervention for people with chronic neurological conditions and generating standardised training recommendations.



Publication History

Article published online:
23 October 2025

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