Walking with UAN.GO Exoskeleton: Training and Compliance in a Multiple Sclerosis Patient

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease impacting myelin in the central nervous system, leading to disability.
• MS predominantly affects young adults, significantly reducing quality of life.
• Robotic exoskeleton-assisted rehabilitation is being explored for neurological disease recovery.

Observation:

• A single-case study involving a 71-year-old male with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (EDSS score 6).
• The patient underwent 10 sessions of lower-limb robotic exoskeleton (UAN.GO) therapy.
• Assessments included walking tests, fatigue scales, health surveys, and physiological monitoring.

Findings:

• Significant improvement in 6-minute walking test distance (53m to 61m).
• Positive trends observed in heart rate and saturation during sessions.
• Reduced perceived fatigue reported via the Borg scale (15 to 11).

Implications:

• Robotic exoskeleton therapy, specifically the UAN.GO, shows promise for improving motor function in MS patients.
• The intervention positively influenced physiological parameters and subjective fatigue levels.
• This case report suggests exoskeletons are a viable tool in the rehabilitation of multiple sclerosis.