• Yana He, Yuxuan Xu, Minghang Hai, Yang Feng, Penghao Liu, Zan Chen, and Wanru Duan.
• Department of Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
• World Neurosurg. 2024 May 1; 185: 455445-54.

AbstractSpinal cord injury (SCI) results in neurological deficits below the level of injury, causing motor dysfunction and various severe multisystem complications. Rehabilitative training plays a crucial role in the recovery of individuals with SCI, and exoskeleton serves as an emerging and promising tool for rehabilitation, especially in promoting neuroplasticity and alleviating SCI-related complications. This article reviews the classifications and research progresses of medical exoskeletons designed for SCI patients and describes their performances in practical application separately. Meanwhile, we discuss their mechanisms for enhancing neuroplasticity and functional remodeling, as well as their palliative impacts on secondary complications. The potential trends in exoskeleton design are raised according to current progress and requirements on SCI rehabilitation.Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

16 keywords...

hide…