Exoskeletal-assisted Walking to Improve Mobility, Bowel Function and Cardio-Metabolic Profiles in Persons With SCI (EAWSCI)

Inclusion Criteria:

• Males and females, between 18-70 years old
• Traumatic or non-traumatic paraplegia >6 months in duration
• SCI motor deficit at any level
• Unable to ambulate faster than 0.17 m/s on level ground with or without an assistive device and are wheelchair-dependent for community mobility
• Height 160 to 190 cm (63-75 in or 5'3" to 6'3" ft)
• Weight <100 kg (<220 lb)
• Able to hold the crutches
• Able to sign informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of neurological injury other than SCI including:
• Multiple sclerosis, Stroke, Cerebral Palsy, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Traumatic Brain injury, Spina bifida, Parkinson's disease, or
• Other neurological condition that the study physician considers in his/her clinical judgment to be exclusionary
• Severe concurrent medical disease, illness or condition
• Recent lower extremity fracture within the past 2 years
• DXA results indicating a t-score below -3.5 at the femoral neck or the total proximal femur bone and knee BMD <0.60 gm/cm2
• Diagnosis of heterotropic ossification of the lower extremities which affect range of motion or proper measurement of BMD measurements
• Significant contractures defined as flexion contracture limited to 35º at the hip and 20º at the knee
• Untreated hypertension (SBP>140, DBP>90 mmHg)
• Symptomatic orthostatic hypotension with standing that does not resolve after attempts at upright posture that were made over several days, and standing by the participant is deemed to pose a health risk, as determined by a physician, because of symptomatic orthostatic hypotension
• Systemic or peripheral infection
• Atherosclerosis, congestive heart failure, or history of myocardial infarction;
• Trunk and/or lower extremity pressure ulcers
• Severe spasticity (defined by an Ashworth score of >4.0 or clinical impression of the study physician or physical therapist)
• Significant contractures defined as flexion contracture limited to 25º at the hip and knee
• Diagnosis of heterotropic ossification of the lower extremities which affect range of motion or proper measurement of BMD measurements
• Psychopathology documentation in the medical record or history of that may conflict with study objectives
• Pregnancy and/or lactating females
• Brain injury with score on mini-mental status examination less than 26
• Diagnosis of coronary artery disease that precludes moderate to intense exercise
• Deep vein thromboses in lower extremities of less than 6 months duration
• Other illness, that the study physician considers in his/her clinical judgment to be exclusionary.