In most cases spinal cord injury (SCI) causes life-long disability and restrictions in the area of mobility. As a result, many of the patients remain nonambulatory and dependent on a wheelchair. Life-long inability to stand up and to walk may increase the risk of secondary complications, as there are osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases. Also SCI is known as a reason for reduced quality of life.

In order to allow patients to stand up, to walk and to climb stairs, despite the lack of neuromuscular function of the lower extremity,1 the Company ReWalk Robitics from Israel developed the ReWalk system. Electric motors at the knee and hip joints of the exoskeleton replace the step movements of the user.

The aim of this investigation is to evaluate how training with the ReWalk exoskeleton will affect the quality of life of a patient with SCI.

The empirical case study was designed using an A-B-format and conducted over a period of 7 months.

In phase A (1 month) the patient was prepared for the exoskeleton and baseline measurements were carried out. During this phase the patient received standard physiotherapy three times per week (2×60 min and 1×30 min) including standing and trunk stability exercises.1

Intervention phase (Phase B) with gait training using the ReWalk exoskeleton lasted 6 months and outcome measures were taken at predefined intervals.

A male inpatient of Asklepios Neurological Hospital Falkenstein was recruited and informed consent was given. The patient had suffered a traumatic SCI after a traffic accident one year earlier, level of Injury was Th11 and ASIA Impairment Scale rated C.

Interventional treatment included ReWalk (Rewalk Robotics, Berlin, Germany) training five times per week with each session lasting 1 h. Initial goals were being able to walk for longer distances without involuntary interruption, and to gradually reduce the support of the accompanying physiotherapist and performing donning and doffing without assistance. Walking outdoors, around obstacles and walking without assistance were supposed to be gradually increasing challenges. The long-term goal was walking independently in everyday life when accompanied by family or friends.

Quality of life survey SF-36, goal attainment scale (GAS) and American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS) were scored before and after intervention phase.

The SF-36 survey2 is a validated assessment to evaluate the health status of SCI patients.3 The validated German version we used has shown a good reliability (0.80).4

The GAS is a patient-oriented method and was described by Kiresuk and Sherman5 for the first time. It senses the subjective opinion of the patients.6

Three personal main goals of the patients were documented and evaluated on a 5-point-scale by Tuner-Stokes.7

The AIS was originally developed by American Spinal Injury Association,8 and is annually reviewed and further developed by an international panel.9

A modified Berg-Balance-Scale (BBS)10 was recorded monthly during the study period. Standing on one leg, standing with one foot in front of the other and picking up objects from the ground is not possible when using the ReWalk exoskeleton. Therefore we modified the BBS and removed these three items. Validity and reliability of this assessment has been demonstrated in neurological rehabilitation11–13 and as well in patients with SCI.14

The Dynamic Gait Index (DGI)15 was also filled out on a monthly basis. In this study, the maximum score was reduced from 24 to 21 because changing the walkingspeed with the ReWalk is not possible. Item five was only carried out with small obstacles like cables or carpets. This assessment was classified as a valid and reliable method (0.96) with incoordination or stroke patients.13,16

Vital signs like blood pressure and heart rate were documented prior to the exercise and after the first 10 min of walking.

The therapists recorded the daily maximum walking distance. The necessary support the patient received when walking was documented using the Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) scale.

Descriptive statistics were calculated with the help of Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Ireland Operations Ltd., Dublin, Ireland).

Table 1 shows the results of the SF-36 Survey compaired to the average scores of German men in the year 1998.2 T0 is the first measurement in phase A before the ReWalk-gait training and T1 shows the scores achieved after 6 months of training. The percentages were calculated according to a formula provided by Bullinger and Kirchberger.2 The total score of six thematic areas of the SF-36 questionnaire has changed positively over the course of the study. Table 1 also shows that four categories of the SF-36 were >90% in the outcome measurement. The highest percentage change (+50) was in the area of ‘physical functioning’.

Table 1 Evaluation of SF-36 - Percentage change
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The GAS showed 30.36 points improvement. The three goals: ‘being able to walk alone’, ‘being able to climb stairs’ and ‘more power for the activities in daily life’ had a value of 25.71 points in the baseline measurement. Therefore importance, difficulty, weight, baseline and outcome score were calculated by a formular7 and the difference of the outcome measurement (56.07) and the baseline leading to this result. Overall, the goals of the patient were 46% more achieved than in the baseline.

The ASIA motor function score improved from 52 to 54 points. Sensory functions remained unchanged. The patient partly regained control for bowel and bladder functions.

Tables 2 and 3 show the results of BBS and DGI. The monthly maximum points the patient received in these assessments are shown in Table 2. These data were used to find the minimum, the maximum and the range, to calculate the training-induced improvements during the course of the study (Table 3).

Table 2 Evaluation BBS & DGI
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Table 3 Evaluation BBS and DGI - minimum/maximum values
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It is noteworthy that the resting heart rate and the difference between resting and training heart rate decreased at the end of the study (Table 4). The exercise induced increase of the blood pressure also lessons over the course of the study (Table 4).

Table 4 Heart rate and blood preasure
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Towards the end of the study, the patient was able to walk independently (indoors and on level surfaces) supervised by one person.

The maximum walking distance achieved without stopping was 500 m, signalling an improvement in the FAC scale to tier 3. Milestones of the training period are shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1
figure 1

Flowchart of the training period (FAC, Functional Ambulation Category).

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The data analysis of this single case study suggests that the independent variable ‘ReWalk-training’ has a positive influence on the studied dependent variable ‘quality of life’.

Six of the eight thematic areas of the SF-36 have improved significantly compared to phase A, which leads to the assumption that ReWalk training has a positive effect on quality of life.

The study of Zeilig et al.,17 with the help of a satisfaction questionnaire, subjectively pointed to a positive influence on the quality of life, too, which supports the result of this study.

The ASIA motor score improved from segment L2 to L3. At the end of the study period the patient was able to use his hipflexion better than before and he could make his first movements of the knee extension on his own. Before the study, the values relative to the AIS-sensori-motor neurological status were unchanged over a period of 3 months, leading to the assumption that the treatment of the patient had been completed. A follow-up measurement would be very interesting after another year of ReWalk training.

No other study with the ReWalk exoskeleton came to this result but two other studies of patients with SCI using the Lokomat, also found an improvement in motor function as measured by the Lower Extremity Motor Score.18,19 The Lokomat is a frequently used gait trainer in rehabilitation centres and there are a lot of results with incomplete SCI patients to compare with.

Another significant improvement of the AIS in this single case study is the recovery of bladder and bowel control. Esquenazi et al.1 obtained an improvement of intestinal regulation in 5 out of 11 patients with the ReWalk. If these results will be shown in further studies, then this would be an important foundation to justify the use of the exoskeleton in the rehabilitation centre or aid regulation for the use at home.

The positive effect of the BBS is not shown in other studies. For example, Freivogel et al.20 could not find significant improvement of the BBS (P=0.168) in patients who underwent Lokohelp training.

Pulse and blood pressure measurements are indicators of an improvement in physical condition, which is also recorded in two other studies.1,17 This is only one result in accordance to other results which helps to reduce the risk factors of SCI patients.

FAC scale has increased to tier 3. The patient was able to walk on level surfaces and there is only one therapist needed for supervision. Contrary to these findings, Wirz et al.19 could see no improvement of FAC using Lokomat.

The maximum walking distance was 500 m. Other robot-assisted therapies showed also an improvement.1,17

The intervention was free of complications in the study phase. There were no falls, no skin injury or technical problems. The safety of the ReWalk exoskeleton is also shown in the study of Esquenazi et al.1

For the cost-benefit factor it is noteworthly that two therapists are needed for 1-h training in the beginning. This is important for safety at the first training sessions and the donning and doffing needs a lot of time especially in the beginning of the training (about 10–20 min). Final aim of the ReWalk training is walking and training indepently with a family member or a friend.

This case report of treatment of a patient with SCI using the ReWalk system gives evidence of a positive impact on quality of life, ability to walk, cardiovascular endurance and motor neurological status.

Further studies with a larger number of subjects, and follow-up measurements to describe the everyday use of the device are neccessary.