Evaluation of the effects of gait reeducation in a child using the automated Prodrobot gait trainer – a case report

Background
Children with neurological gait disorders, such as ataxia, face significant challenges in mobility, affecting their independence and daily activities. Gait rehabilitation is crucial to improve their quality of life, and recent advancements in robotic therapy, like the Prodrobot gait trainer, offer new possibilities. Prodrobot assists in reeducating walking patterns by enhancing biomechanical parameters through controlled, automated movements. This case report focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of Prodrobot therapy in improving the gait of a 12-year-old with fourlimb ataxia.

Aims
The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of gait reeducation therapy in a child using the Prodrobot gait trainer. The analysis focuses on the biomechanical parameters of gait. Two key research questions were posed: Did the kinematic variables, such as changes in joint angles in the ankle, knee, and hip in the sagittal plane, differ before and after therapy? Did the spatial movements of the pelvis change after completing gait reeducation therapy?

Material and methods
The study was conducted on a 12-year-old female patient with four-limb ataxia, predominantly on the left side. The Vicon 250 optoelectronic system was used to record gait. The rehabilitation lasted for six months, with 2-3 sessions per week, during which gait re-education was performed using the Prodrobot gait trainer.

Results
Gait analysis before and after therapy, along with a comparison to physiological gait, demonstrated improvements in the range of motion in the ankle, knee, and hip joints, as well as pelvic range of motion in all three planes following therapy.

Conclusions
The use of the Prodrobot gait trainer yielded the expected results, bringing the patient’s gait parameters closer to physiological norms. However, further research on gait re-education using modern devices is necessary.