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Updated: Jun 28, 2026
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A Rehabilitation Program of Exoskeleton-assisted Body Weight-Supported Treadmill Training with Non-immersive Virtual Reality for Stroke Patients
Published on: May 16, 2025
Improving gait in multiple sclerosis using robot-assisted, body weight supported treadmill training.
Albert C Lo1, Elizabeth W Triche
1Department of Clinical Neurosciences at Brown University, Providence VA Medical Center, Providence, Rhode Island 02909-4799, USA. albert_lo@brown.edu
Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair
|October 31, 2008
Summary
Task-repetitive gait training, specifically body weight supported treadmill training (BWSTT), significantly improved gait function and disability scores in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. This intervention shows promise for reducing gait impairment in MS.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) frequently leads to progressive gait impairment, impacting patient mobility over time.
- Task-repetitive gait training offers a potential solution for this common MS-related disability.
- Current treatment gaps exist for effectively managing gait dysfunction in MS patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of task-repetitive gait training using body weight supported treadmill training (BWSTT) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
- To compare BWSTT with or without robotic assistance (Lokomat) in improving gait parameters and disability.
- To assess the impact of BWSTT on specific gait metrics and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS).
Main Methods:
- A randomized crossover design was employed with 13 MS patients.
- Participants underwent 6 sessions of BWSTT over 3 weeks, with or without robotic assistance.
- Outcomes measured included the timed 25-foot walk (T25FW), 6-minute walk (6MW) distance, EDSS, double-limb support time, and step length ratio.
Main Results:
- BWSTT led to significant within-subject improvements in gait outcomes and EDSS scores.
- Patients showed a 31% improvement in T25FW and a 38.5% improvement in 6MW distance.
- A 1-point gain on the EDSS was observed, indicating reduced disability.
Conclusions:
- Task-repetitive gait training, particularly BWSTT, demonstrates potential as an activity-dependent intervention for MS gait impairment.
- While no significant differences were found between BWSTT with or without robotic assistance, the overall intervention showed positive results.
- BWSTT may help reduce gait impairment and improve functional mobility in individuals with multiple sclerosis.
