TY - JOUR
T1 - Feasibility of motor-assisted elliptical to improve walking, fitness and balance following pediatric acquired brain injury
T2 - A case series
AU - Burnfield, Judith M.
AU - Cesar, Guilherme M.
AU - Buster, Thad W.
N1 - Funding Information:
The contents of this work were developed under a grant initially received from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, Department of Education (H133G130274; Principal Investigator: Burnfield) and subsequently funded through a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, Administration for Community Living (90IF0060; Principal Investigator: Burnfield). The contents of the article do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education or the Administration for Community Living, and endorsement by the federal government should not be assumed.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 - IOS Press. All rights reserved.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - PURPOSE: Walking, fitness, and balance deficits are common following acquired brain injury (ABI). This study assessed feasibility, acceptability, and usefulness of a modified motor-assisted elliptical (ICARE) in addressing walking, fitness, and balance deficits in children with chronic ABIs. METHODS: Three children (>5 years post-ABI) completed 24 ICARE exercise sessions (exercise time, speed, and time overriding motor-assistance gradually increased) to promote mass repetition of gait-like movements and challenge cardiorespiratory fitness. Parents' and children's perceptions of ICARE's safety, comfort, workout, and usability were assessed. Cardiovascular response, gait and balance outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: No adverse events occurred. Parent's Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores of perceived device safety (range 80-99), workout (range 99-100), and usability (range 75-100) were high, while comfort were 76-80 given commercial harness fit and arm support. Children's VAS scores all exceeded 89. Comfortable walking velocity, 2-Minute Walk Test, fitness, and Pediatric Balance Scale scores improved post-training, with many outcomes surpassing established minimal clinically important differences. CONCLUSION: Following engagement in moderate- to vigorous-intensity exercise promoting repetitive step-like movements on a specially adapted motor-assisted elliptical, three children with chronic ABI demonstrated improvements in walking, fitness and balance. Future research in community-based environments with a larger cohort of children with ABI is needed.
AB - PURPOSE: Walking, fitness, and balance deficits are common following acquired brain injury (ABI). This study assessed feasibility, acceptability, and usefulness of a modified motor-assisted elliptical (ICARE) in addressing walking, fitness, and balance deficits in children with chronic ABIs. METHODS: Three children (>5 years post-ABI) completed 24 ICARE exercise sessions (exercise time, speed, and time overriding motor-assistance gradually increased) to promote mass repetition of gait-like movements and challenge cardiorespiratory fitness. Parents' and children's perceptions of ICARE's safety, comfort, workout, and usability were assessed. Cardiovascular response, gait and balance outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: No adverse events occurred. Parent's Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores of perceived device safety (range 80-99), workout (range 99-100), and usability (range 75-100) were high, while comfort were 76-80 given commercial harness fit and arm support. Children's VAS scores all exceeded 89. Comfortable walking velocity, 2-Minute Walk Test, fitness, and Pediatric Balance Scale scores improved post-training, with many outcomes surpassing established minimal clinically important differences. CONCLUSION: Following engagement in moderate- to vigorous-intensity exercise promoting repetitive step-like movements on a specially adapted motor-assisted elliptical, three children with chronic ABI demonstrated improvements in walking, fitness and balance. Future research in community-based environments with a larger cohort of children with ABI is needed.
KW - Children
KW - balance
KW - brain injury
KW - elliptical
KW - fitness
KW - gait training
KW - technology
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U2 - 10.3233/PRM-200717
DO - 10.3233/PRM-200717
M3 - Article
C2 - 33935119
AN - SCOPUS:85116334197
SN - 1874-5393
VL - 14
SP - 539
EP - 551
JO - Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine
JF - Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine
IS - 3
ER -