Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice ›› 2026, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (6): 645-652.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-9771.2026.06.003

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Effect of ankle soft robotic exosuit on gait function for stroke patients: a scoping review from 2020 to 2025

GAO Huigang1a,2, LIU Yuanwen2, QIN Yuling1a,3, HU Xiquan1a,2, ZHU Lin1a,1b,1c()   

  1. 1 a. School of Sport and Health; b. Innovative Research Center for Sports Science in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area; c. Research Center for Innovative Development of Sports and Healthcare Integration, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510500, China
    2 Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, China
    3 Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Haimen District People's Hospital, Nantong, Jiangsu 226100, China
  • Received:2025-07-30 Revised:2025-12-26 Published:2026-06-25 Online:2026-06-24
  • Supported by:
    Guangdong New Type of Regular Higher Education Institutions Think Tanks(2024TSZK017);National Social Science Fund of China(23ATY007);National Key Research and Development Program(2022YFC3601202)

Abstract:

Objective To explore effect of the ankle soft robotic exosuits(ASRE)on gait function in stroke patients.
Methods Databases including PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang and VIP were searched for researches evaluating the impact of ASRE on gait function in stroke patients with hemiplegia, covering the period from January 1st, 2020 to May 1st, 2025. The PEDro scale and the Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Studies of Interventions tool were used to assess the quality of the included researches, and data were extracted for a scoping review.
Results A total of twelve researches were finally included, consisting of three randomized controlled trials(RCT), three cross-over controlled trials and six pre-post controlled trials, which came from three countries of China, the United States and South Korea, involving 256 patients. The three RCT were rated as high-quality, while the remaining researches were presented moderate to serious risk of bias. Five researches employed a single-session intervention; and seven used multiple-session intervention, with 30 to 60 minutes a session, two to five sessions a week, for five to 20 sessions. ASRE was effective on walking speed, walking distance, propulsive force of the hemiplegic side, gait parameters and spatiotemporal symmetry, joint range of motion, as well as the scores of scales related to lower limb motor function, balance and gait, with favorable safety and reliability.
Conclusion ASRE may improve the gait function in stroke patients.

Key words: stroke, ankle soft robotic exosuit, gait function, scoping review

CLC Number: