ROBOT-ASSISTED GAIT TRAINING IS A PROMISING NOVELTY IN THE NEURO- REHABILITATION: NARRATIVE REVIEW

Alkhouli, Mennatallah W.; Aly, Maya G.; Darwish, Moshera

doi:10.21608/bptrs.2025.398324.1052

	ROBOT-ASSISTED GAIT TRAINING IS A PROMISING NOVELTY IN THE NEURO- REHABILITATION: NARRATIVE REVIEW
Bulletin of Physical Therapy Research and Studies
Volume 3, Issue 2, May 2025, Page 151-162 PDF (418.11 K)
Document Type: Original Article
DOI: 10.21608/bptrs.2025.398324.1052
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Authors
Mennatallah W. Alkhouli ¹; Maya G. Aly²; Moshera Darwish³
¹Demonstrator of physical therapy for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Faculty of physical therapy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Governorate,Egypt
²Department of Pediatric Physical Therapy, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
³Department of Physical Therapy for Neurology, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Egypt.
Abstract
Background: Stroke is a major cause of long-term disability, with gait being a demanding outcome. Robot-Assisted Gait Training (RAGT) offers a new intervention for repetitive, task-specific locomotor rehabilitation. Objective: The objective of this narrative review is to outline the existing scenarios of RAGT systems, to report their clinical efficiencies, to examine their neuroplastic mechanisms, and to point out the limitations and future research directions in treating post-stroke conditions by using rehabilitation strategies. Methods: The search of peer-reviewed articles published in 2008-2025 on the basis of databases, including PubMed, PEDro, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar was carried out completely. Articles on RAGT-based interventions after stroke with any age were considered, as well as hybrid protocols involving RAGT (combined with any other therapeutic intervention). Results: Positive outcomes of RAGT have been demonstrated to gait speed, gait symmetry, gait endurance and balance especially when introduced in the subacute and chronic stages of the stroke. Both end-effector and exoskeleton present certain benefits depending on the degree to which a patient is affected. Multimodal stimulation supplements the outcomes by supplementing hybrid RAGT therapies. Nevertheless, the problem continues to be heterogeneity of protocols, lack of long-term follow-up, and high costs that do not facilitate its universal use. Conclusion: The application of RAGT forms a useful supplement to standard stroke rehabilitation especially when applied on an individual basis coupled with other treatments. The next steps to increase the universality of the procedures, make them more accessible, and find neuroplastic biomarkers to maximize the results should be aimed.
Keywords
end-effector; exoskeleton; neuroplasticity; stroke rehabilitation; robot-assisted gait training


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