Robot‐assisted training with functional electrical stimulation enhances lower extremity function after spinal cord injury

Introduction Functional electrical stimulation (FES) synchronized with robot‐assisted lower extremity training is used in spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation to promote residual function. Methods Data of SCI inpatients who trained lower limb mobilization on a stationary robotic system were retrospectively analyzed. The primary outcome was the improvement of muscle strength from the first through to the last training session during FES‐induced as well as voluntarily induced flexion and extension. The secondary outcome was the sum score of voluntary muscle function in the lower limbs before and after the training period. Results Data from 72 patients with SCI (AIS A‐D) were analyzed. For extension, FES‐assisted strength increased (p