Walking problems caused by stroke, spinal cord injury, or orthopedic surgery are common and can seriously limit a person's independence. Robotic-assisted gait training devices, which use a computer-controlled system to help patients practice standing and walking, have shown promise in improving strength, balance, and walking ability in other countries. However, this type of technology has not yet been carefully studied in Bangladesh.
This study will test a robotic gait training and evaluation device called ZEPU-AI1 in adults aged 19 to 60 years who have difficulty walking due to stroke, incomplete spinal cord injury, or gait problems following surgery. The main goals are to find out whether using this robotic device alongside standard physical therapy is feasible (practical to carry out) and safe, and to explore whether it helps improve walking speed, balance, muscle strength, and daily function compared with standard physical therapy alone.
Thirty-two participants will take part. Half will receive robot-assisted gait training three times a week for 12 weeks in addition to usual rehabilitation therapy, while the other half will receive usual rehabilitation therapy alone. Participants will be assessed regularly using standard walking, balance, and strength tests over the 12-week period.
The results of this study will help doctors and researchers understand whether this robotic technology can be safely and effectively introduced into rehabilitation care in Bangladesh.
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
shakoorma@bmu.ac.bd+8801819410080
Participants (n=16) will receive robot-assisted gait training using the ZEPU-AI1 Gait Training and Evaluation System in addition to standard-of-care rehabilitation. Training will be delivered 3 times per week for 12 weeks (36 sessions total), each session approximately 45 minutes, including warm-up, device donning, structured standing and gait training (sit-to-stand, in-place stepping, overground walking, turning), and cool-down. Body-weight support, walking speed, and session duration will be progressively adjusted based on participant tolerance and performance. Sessions will be supervised by trained physiatrists and physiotherapists at the Robotic Rehabilitation Centre, BMU. Standard-of-care rehabilitation (individualized rehabilitation and exercise) will continue in parallel.
Participants (n=16) will receive standard-of-care rehabilitation alone, without robotic-assisted gait training. This includes individualized rehabilitation and exercise (IRR) as per institutional protocol at the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, BMU, matched in overall therapeutic content to the conventional-therapy component received by the intervention group.
ZEPU-AI5 Strength Training Study (ZEPUAI5RCT)
ZEPU-AI3 Lower Limb Feedback Robot Training Study
ZEPU-SGI1PLUS Hand Training Study (ZEPUSGI1RCT)
The Feasibility and Therapeutic Effect of Hybrid End-effector Robot-assisted Gait Training With an Active-assisted Module in Chronic Stroke Survivors
The Effect of Robot-assisted Gait Training in Individuals With Chronic Stroke
Robot-assisted Gait Training for Patients With Stroke
Robot Walking Rehabilitation in Stroke Patients
The Effect of Robot-assisted Walking Training on Motor Functions, Respiratory Parameters and Functional Capacity in Cerebral Palsy