Hybrid Assistive Limb improves restricted hip extension after total hip arthroplasty

ABSTRACT

The Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) was developed as an exoskeleton robot that supports gait training. The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of training using the HAL after total hip arthroplasty (THA). We targeted 16 consecutive patients who underwent THA via the posterior approach. We randomized patients to the HAL group (8 hips), in which the HAL was used as part of physical therapy, or the control group (8 hips), in which only typical physical therapy was performed. Gait analysis was performed before and after surgery, and comparisons were made between the two groups. We evaluated the single support time (%), double support time (%), cadence (steps/min), velocity (cm/s), stride length (cm), and anteroposterior and lateral variability, and assessed the hip and knee joint range of motion in the sagittal plane. The results showed improvements in the hip extension angle and other gait parameters in the HAL group. Among gait-related problems after THA, a decreased peak hip extension angle is reported to be a significant factor that affects gait disability. This study revealed that HAL usage after THA seems to be a useful method to obtain sufficient extension angle.

KEYWORDS:

• decreased peak hip extension angle
• gait analysis
• Hybrid Assistive Limb
• total hip arthroplasty

Acknowledgments

We thank Angela Morben, DVM, ELS, from Edanz Group (www.edanzediting.com/ac), for editing a draft of this manuscript.

Availability of data and material

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.