Background: Using mechanical orthoses have some limitations for walking in paraplegic patients. The development of powered orthoses could potentially overcome some of the limitations of those currently available.

Objectives: The aim of this review was to compare the evidence of the effect of powered gait orthoses (PGOs) when compared to reciprocating gait orthoses (RGOs) and also hip guidance orthoses (HGOs) in improving gait parameters and the energy efficiency of walking by spinal cord injury (SCI) patients.

Study Design: Literature review.

Methods: Using the PRISMA method, and based on selected keywords and their composition, a search was performed in PubMed, Science Direct, and ISI Web of Knowledge databases. Eight articles were selected for final evaluation.

Results: The results of the analysis demonstrated that there is lack of evidence to show that currently-developed powered orthoses improve the walking parameters of SCI patients when compared to RGOs and HGOs.

Conclusions: The changes offered by PGOs are not substantial enough for such orthoses to be currently considered preferable by SCI subjects for ambulatory purposes.

Clinical relevance: The development of powered orthoses is still in its infancy and progress needs to be made to improve their functionality and performance envelopes.

Author: Jolanta Marszałek