The assistive gait devices and their implementation in activities of daily living for patients with neuromuscular disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Mijic M, Wirner-Piotrowski C, Jung A, Gutschmidt K, Arndt M, García-Angarita N, Wenninger S, Young P, Schoser B (2024)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2024

Journal

Journal of Neuromuscular Diseases IOS Press

DOI: 10.1177/22143602241289216

Abstract

Background:

To date, assistive gait devices (AGDs) for people with neuromuscular diseases (NMDs) have not been systematically evaluated.

Objective:

This systematic review evaluated AGDs for people with NMDs.

Methods

Suitable tools were used to assess the study quality and the certainty of evidence. If feasible, a descriptive and quantitative synthesis was conducted.

Results:

Forty studies were included on: gait-assisting exoskeletons (GAEs), orthopaedic footwear (OF), knee and/or ankle-foot-orthoses (AFOs) and non-invasive neuroprostheses that provide functional electrical stimulation (FES). Pairwise meta-analysis could not be performed due to a lack of homogenous data. The within-group pre-post meta-analysis in GAE studies showed an improvement in 2-min walk test (2MWT) (m) (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.36, 95%-CI: 0.17 to 0.54), but not in 10-meter walk test (10MWT) (sec) (SMD = 0.33, 95%-CI: −0.10 to 0.76) and in functional independence measure (FIM) (SMD = −0.002, 95%-CI: −0.21 to 0.21). In AFO studies, there was no improvement in 10MWT(m) (SMD = −0.11, 95%-CI: −0.76 to 0.53). A single session with AFO or OF vs no-AFO or OF post-intervention meta-analysis did not reveal an improvement in walking speed (m/s) (SMD = 0.39, 95%-CI: −0.03 to 0.83).

Discussion:

GAEs seem to help patients to walk longer. The meta-analyses showed no significant results to support the effect of AFOs or OF. Neuroprostheses and knee orthoses showed no evidence.

Conclusion:

No clear conclusions can be drawn on how AGDs affect NMDs. The positive AGD effects are based on very low certainty of evidence.

Authors with CRIS profile

Andres Jung Lehrstuhl für Sportwissenschaft mit dem Schwerpunkt Bewegung und Gesundheit

Involved external institutions

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) DE Germany (DE) Medical Park Bad Feilnbach Reithofpark DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Mijic, M., Wirner-Piotrowski, C., Jung, A., Gutschmidt, K., Arndt, M., García-Angarita, N.,... Schoser, B. (2024). The assistive gait devices and their implementation in activities of daily living for patients with neuromuscular disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Neuromuscular Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1177/22143602241289216

MLA:

Mijic, Marko, et al. "The assistive gait devices and their implementation in activities of daily living for patients with neuromuscular disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis." Journal of Neuromuscular Diseases (2024).

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