Understanding how demographic characteristics impact the level of physical activity children with neuromotor impairments experience while using a robot-assisted walker
Listed in
This article is not in any list yet, why not save it to one of your lists.Abstract
Importance
There are very few interventions designed for individuals with the most severe mobility impairments. Robotic walking may be an effective way to facilitate exercise in this population.
Objective
To examine how robot-assisted walker’s physical parameters and user characteristics moderate the exercise intensity achieved by individuals with neuromotor disorders causing mobility impairments.
Design
A prospective study.
Intervention
A single-session intervention involving an overground robot-assisted walker that can be used in an “endurance” mode requiring no voluntary movement or a “strength” mode during which voluntary movement could impact the gait pattern.
Participants
Individuals with pediatric-onset mobility impairments
Main Outcome Measures
Participants were characterized based on their age, sex, diagnosis, and Gilette Functional Assessment Ǫuestionnaire (FAǪ) levels. Heart rate during the final minute of four 5-minute walking conditions: “strength” mode at fast speed, “strength” mode at slow speed, “endurance” mode at fast speed and “endurance” mode at slow speed was expressed as a percentage of each participant’s heart rate reserve (%HRR). Linear mixed-effects models were used to evaluate the impact of speed, device mode and user characteristics on the level of exercise achieved.
Results
29 individuals (aged 2-26 years) with mobility impairments (FAǪ levels 1-6) completed this study. Fast speeds were associated with a higher %HRR (β= 2.11, SE = 1.03, p = 0.044). Participants in FAǪ class 1 exhibited significantly higher %HRR compared with those in FAǪ classes 2 and 3 (β =18.6, SE=7.31, p=0.017; β= 16.9, SE = 8.13, p = 0.047, respectively). No other device or participant characteristics were associated with exercise intensity.
Conclusions
To facilitate higher exercise levels, users of robot-assisted walkers can increase their speed. Individuals who cannot take steps due to their neuromotor impairments experience the highest levels of exercise.
Relevance
The findings in this study highlight the promise of robot-assisted walkers to improve health, particularly in those who often face the greatest barriers to exercise.
