End-Effector Robot-Assisted Gait Training in Quadruple Amputees: Two Case Reports

Quadruple amputation, defined as the loss of all four limbs, is an exceptionally rare condition. Conventional gait training is particularly challenging in this population because the absence of upper limbs limits the ability to grasp assistive devices that are essential for maintaining balance and stability during walking. End-effector robot-assisted gait training offers an alternative rehabilitation strategy that enables upright mobility and task-specific gait training for patients who experience substantial difficulty performing conventional gait training. This approach provides safe, repetitive, and hands-free gait training for individuals with quadruple amputation, resulting in measurable improvements in balance, ground reaction force, and functional mobility. We report two cases of successful amputee gait rehabilitation using an end-effector-type gait robot in two females (aged 72 and 51 years) with quadruple amputation.