Initial Outcomes from a Multicenter Study Utilizing the Indego Powered Exoskeleton in Spinal Cord Injury

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Assistive Technology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Spinal cord injury (SCI) often results in nonambulatory status, significantly impacting mobility and independence.
• Powered exoskeletons offer a potential solution for restoring upright mobility in individuals with SCI.
• Assessing the safety and efficacy of such devices in real-world conditions is crucial for clinical adoption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and mobility outcomes of the Indego powered exoskeleton in nonambulatory individuals with SCI.
• To assess the device's performance in both indoor and outdoor walking environments.
• To determine the impact of an 8-week training program on exoskeleton use and walking capabilities.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter prospective observational cohort study involving 32 nonambulatory individuals with SCI.
• Participants underwent an 8-week training protocol using the Indego exoskeleton 3 times per week.
• Safety was monitored via adverse events (AEs), and mobility outcomes included donning/doffing independence, 10-meter walk test (10MWT), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), Timed Up & Go (TUG), and 600-meter walk test.

Main Results:

• All 32 participants completed the training with minimal, non-disruptive, device-related AEs.
• Most participants achieved independent donning and doffing of the Indego exoskeleton.
• Significant improvements in indoor and outdoor walking speeds (average 0.37 m/s) and endurance were observed after 8 weeks.

Conclusions:

• The Indego powered exoskeleton is a safe device for enhancing upright mobility in nonambulatory individuals with SCI.
• The training program led to notable improvements in walking speed, endurance, and independence with exoskeleton use.
• The findings support the use of powered exoskeletons for rehabilitation and mobility restoration in SCI populations.