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Table 1 Summary of studies, in order of level of evidence, including intervention and participant descriptors

From: The effectiveness of robotic-assisted gait training for paediatric gait disorders: systematic review

Group studies

Level of evidence

Research design

Participants

Total n

Ages (y)

Intervention

Control intervention

Druzbicki 2010 [15]

II

RCT

CP

GMFCS II-IV

18

6–14

RAGT + PT

20 sessions over 4/52 (45 min duration)

Individual PT only

Druzbicki 2013 [18]

II

RCT

CP: SD GMFCS II and III

52

10–11

RAGT

20 sessions over 4/52 (45 min duration)

Individual PT only

Smania 2011 [4]

II

RCT

CP

GMFCS I-IV

18

E = 13 ± 2.8

C = 12 ± 3.1

RAGT

5 sessions (30 min RAGT and 10 min stretching: 40 min duration) over 2/52

5 × 40 min sessions of exercises over 2/52

Nikityuk 2016 [20]

III2

pre/post test with control

CP (average GMFCS level of III

27

E = 9.0 ± 3.67

C = 9.1 ± 4.84

RAGT + FES

15 sessions (30 min duration) over 3/52

RAGT (no FES), duration same as for E

Brutsch 2011 [14]

III3

Interrupted time series (two schedules)

Neurol (10): CP 5, TBI 2, MM 2, SLE 1.

10

12.47 +/− 2.75

RAGT

1 of 2 schedules of feedback (30–40 min duration)

Crossover

2nd of 2 schedules of feedback (30–40 min duration)

Patritti 2010 [5]

III3

Interrupted time series

ABA vs ACA

CP: D

(GMFCS II x2; III x2)

4

5.5–8

RAGT + augmented feedback

RAGT (no FB)

Schroeder 2014 [19]

III3 Interrupted time series (ABA)

CP (bilateral spastic)

GMFCS I-IV

18

11.5

RAGT (B)

12 sessions (30–60 min duration) over 3/52

Control (A) period before and after usual physio 3/52

Bayon 2016 [17]

IV

Pre/post test

CP (bilateral spastic)

GMFCS II and III

Post-SEMLS (11 & 42 months)

2

12 and 14

RAGT using novel ‘CPWalker’ 10 sessions (60 min duration) over 5/52.

n/a

Borggraefe 2008 [21]

IV

Pre/post test Single case

CP

GMFCS III

1

6

RAGT

12 sessions over 3/52 (mean 34 min duration)

n/a

Borggraefe 2010 [25]

IV

Pre/post test

CP

GMFCS I-IV

20

11.0 ± 5.1

RAGT

12 sessions (50 min duration) over 3/52

n/a

Borggraefe 2010 [12]

IV

Pre/post test

CP (58)

Neurol (20) Orthop (2) Miscel (9)

89

11.4+/−4.5

RAGT

12 sessions over 3/52 (30 min duration)

n/a

Borggraefe 2010 [22] (f/u of [25])

IV

Pre/post test

CP (13)

Spinal paralysis (1)

14

8.2 ± 5.4

RAGT

12 sessions (50 min duration) over 3/52 plus follow-up sessions 2-3p/m over 6/12

n/a

Koenig 2008 [16]

IV

Pre/post test

Descriptive case study

CP - nil further data

15

No data

RAGT

(different VR scenarios with haptic feedback)

n/a

Meyer-Heim 2007 [13]

IV

Pre/post test

CP (19)

TBI/GB etc. (7)

26

10.1+/−4

RAGT

3–20 sessions (45 min duration)

n/a

Meyer-Heim 2009 [23]

IV

Pre/post test

CP (22)

GMFCS II-IV

22

8.6

RAGT

3–5 sessions (45–60 min duration)

n/a

Schroeder 2014 [11]

IV

Pre/post test

CP

GMFCS I-V

83

10.9 ± 6.1

RAGT

12 sessions (30–60 min duration) over 3/52

n/a

van Hedel 2015 [24]

IV

Pre/post test retrospective

CP

GMFCS II-IV

67

11.3 ± 4

RAGT

At least one session

n/a

  1. RCT randomised controlled trial, CP cerebral palsy, GMFCS gross motor function classification system, RAGT robot-assisted gait training, PT physiotherapy, SD spastic diplegia, E experimental group, C control group, FES functional electric stimulation, Neurol neurological, TBI traumatic brain injury, MM myelomeningocele, SLE systemic lupus erythromatosis, AB, ABA and ACA indicates types of interrupted time series design, FB feedback, n/a not applicable, SEMLs single event multiple level surgery, Orthop orthopaedic, miscel miscellaneous, f/u follow-up, VR virtual reality, GB guillain barre