Evaluating the effectiveness of a robotic rehabilitation algorithm in functional testing in patients with cerebral palsy

Aim: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the functional improvement achieved after a six-week rehabilitation program using an exoskeleton and technology. Materials and Methods: Eighteen individuals with cerebral palsy were evaluated. The group was divided according to the Gross Motor Function Classification System: I- 3, II- 9, III- 6. Patients’ ages were 12- 41 years (mean 17.9). Patients were subjected to a homogeneous technology-assisted rehabilitation program. They began with a warm-up on a stationary bicycle. This was followed by strength training using elastic resistance on the JUPITER and TELKO, body weight transfer training on the AFLA and GAMMA platform, gait re-education in an exoskeleton with functional electrostimulation, and training on the Zebris treadmill. Assessment was performed using functional tests: 6 Minute Walking Test, UP&GO. Calculations were performed using Statistica 13 software from TIBCO and PQStat software from PQStat Software. α=0.05 was used as the level of significance. A result was considered statistically significant when p<α. Normality of the distribution of the variables was tested using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Sphericity was examined using the Mauchley test. Results: The results showed a statistically significant improvement in functional tests: a decrease in the UP&GO test execution time and an increase in the distance in the 6MWT test. Conclusions: Technology-assisted rehabilitation has proven effective in improving patients’ motor functions, as well as stability and postural control during gait. These results are particularly important because these tests are considered indicators of falls risk and level of mobility.