Review of Robot-Assisted Gait Rehabilitation after Stroke

Regarding classical rehabilitation techniques, there is insufficient evidence to state that a particular approach is more effective in promoting gait recovery than robotic devices. More constraining devices, such as Lokomat, could be helpful at the beginning of rehabilitation and with more severely affected patients, whereas end-effector devices and then treadmill gait training with body weight support, could be more effective in more advanced stages of rehabilitation and/or in less affected patients. Robotic devices need further research to show their suitability for walking training and their effects on over-ground gait.