The Effects of Squat & Wearable Robot Angel-legs Assisted Gait Training on Balance and Gait in the Boy with Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy : A Single Case Study

Robot assisted gait-training (RAGT) has been shown to improve the postural balance and gait function in children with cerebral palsy (CP). The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness and efficiency of squat and wearable robot Angel-legs assisted gait training on the balance and gait in the boy with spastic diplegic CP and provide evidence for the clinical application of training using wearable rehabilitation robots. The conventional physical therapy is performed for 30 minutes per session, twice a day for 3 weeks. Squat and gait training with wearable robot was conducted for 30 minutes per session, once a day for 3 weeks (a total of 15 sessions). Outcome measures were evaluated before and after the intervention. Trunk control measurement scales and pediatric balance scale were used to measure balance, gross motor function measure was used to evaluate gross motor function, 10m walking test was used to evaluate walking ability, and electromyography (EMG) was used as a tool to measure muscle activity. Improvements in all of the measurements have been reported after intervention, induced squat & gait training using wearable robot. In particular, maximum of the difference of the same muscle group(quadriceps and hamstring) activity was decreased in EMG measurements. It is associated with using both side muscle equally, then subject improved walking efficiency. In conclusion, these findings suggest that RAGT including squat training may be meaningful for improving of balance ability and gait performance especially walking speed.