Wearable Exoskeleton Assisted Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis: Feasibility and Experience

Abstract

Impaired ability to walk independently is a significant consequence of multiple sclerosis (MS) resulting in substantial limitation in mobility and performance of daily activities, thus restricting full participation and home and community re-integration. Gait training/restoration in MS is necessary but often limited due to the progress and severity of the disease and limitations of traditional strengthening exercises Much attention has been emphasized in developing pharmaceutical treatment to stop or delay the progress of the disease, but not in developing rehabilitation strategies to improve quality of life and facilitate community re-integration for this population. Recently, wearable lower extremity robotic exoskeletons have been developed to restore ambulation in paralyzed or weak individuals with spinal cord injuries. Utilizing exoskeleton in MS rehabilitation may provident difference users experience and improve rehabilitation outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to provide preliminary results and early experience in our MS exoskeleton assisted rehabilitation program.

The study is partly supported by National Multiple Sclerosis Society (PI: Chang), TIRR Foundation, Memorial Hermann Foundation, and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Departmental Funds.