Mehrholz, J. et al “Electromechanical-assisited training for walking after stroke.” Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Jul 25;7 The Cochrane Library 2013, Issue 7 (2)
This Cochrane Review shoes evidence that physiotherapy in combination with electromechanical robotic assisted gait training is more effective when compared to conventional therapy approach in stroke patients. The review includes 23 randomized controlled clinical trials comparing electromechanical and robotic assisted gait training (end-effector based and exoskeleton) versus conventional approach. The authors of the review focused on the proportion of patients who were able to walk reach independency in walking after the intervention and at follow up. Results have shown significant evidence that stroke patients who receive electromechanical assisted gait training in combination with physiotherapy are more likely to achieve a higher chance of independency in walking when compared to those patients who has received only conventional therapy approach. Positive effects were observed in all patients but those patients who were not able to walk within the first three months after the episode seemed to have the most favorable outcome.