Effect of Lower Limb Exoskeleton Rehabilitation Robot on Motor Function and Social Behavior in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy

GAO Zhiyu; HOU Feifei; YUAN Yang; ZHENG Yangshuo; WU Huili

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1004-437X.2026.03.002

Abstract：Objective To explore the effects of lower limb exoskeleton rehabilitation robots on motor function and social behavior of children with spastic cerebral palsy.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted to collect data from 82 children with spastic cerebral palsy admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from April 2020 to February 2023.Among them,41 children who underwent routine rehabilitation were included in the control group,and 41 children who received lower limb exoskeleton rehabilitation robot assisted intervention on the basis of routine rehabilitation were included in the observation group.The walking function[6 minutes walking distance(6MWD),walking speed].balance function[assessed by Berg balance scale(BBS)].gross motor function[assessed by gross motor function scale(GMFM)]and social behavior[assessed using the Gesell developmental diagnostic scale(GDS)social behavior functional area]were evaluated and compared between the two groups at different time points(before treatment and the next day after the end of 6 months of treatment).Results At the end of 6 months of treatment,the 6MWD,walking speed,BBS score,GDS score,standing position score,walking and running jump score of both groups increased compared to before treatment,and all indicators in the observation group were higher than those in the control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Applying lower limb exoskeleton rehabilitation robots to the rehabilitation treatment of children with spastic cerebral palsy can improve walking speed,walking distance,and motor balance ability,which is more conducive to the recovery of lower limb motor function and improvement of social behavior in children.