Assessing walking ability using a robotic gait trainer: opportunities and limitations of assist-as-needed control in spinal cord injury

Table 3 Other clinical assessments included in the experimental protocol

Domain	Test	Abbreviation and reference
Gait speed	10 meter walking test (fastest speed) Time up-and-go test	10MWT [29] TUG [29]
Balance	Berg Balance Scale Time up-and-go test	BBS [30] TUG [29]
Muscle strength	L-FORCE—Lokomat isometric joint torque assessment (hip/knee, flexion/extension) Manual muscle test	LF [31] MMT [32]
Assistance required for walking	Walking index for spinal cord injury Functional ambulation category	WISCI II [29] FAC [30]
Functional status	ASIA impairment scale	AIS [33]

All the assessments were performed during the first visit. We recorded the fastest walking speed during the 10MWT, since we think that fastest walking speed would reflect better patients’ walking capacity (what an individual can do in a ‘standardised’ environment—in the ICF terminology) and their potential to participate in a community challenge [2]

ISSN: 1743-0003