09/09/2026
Small steps can lead to life-changing progress.
For people with a spinal cord injury (SCI), rehabilitation focuses on helping patients recover, improve movement and participate as fully as possible in everyday activities. Recovery often involves a combination of physical therapy, occupational therapy and other specialized treatments tailored to each patient's needs. Advanced technology also plays an important role.
One such technology is an exoskeleton, a wearable robotic device that can help appropriate patients participate in gait training, a therapy focused on standing and walking safely. The rehabilitation team carefully evaluates each individual's condition, abilities and goals to determine whether the technology may be beneficial. By supporting repetitive walking movements, exoskeletons may help reinforce communication pathways between the brain, spinal cord and muscles involved in movement.
During rehabilitation, patients use an exoskeleton to practice walking while therapists monitor gait and progress. The device can adjust the level of assistance based on each patient's individual needs and therapy goals. Exoskeleton’s also collect data on walking patterns and mobility, helping therapists identify challenges, monitor progress and make informed adjustments to treatment plans.
For some patients, the impact can be significant. “You talk about getting people who cannot stand and ambulate on their own, and you put them into an exoskeleton, and literally, in minutes, they are doing that very thing,” said Dr. Monifa Brooks, senior medical officer at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation.
Many secondary complications associated with SCI can be linked to decreased mobility, making opportunities for standing and walking an important part of rehabilitation. Research on exoskeleton-assisted rehabilitation has identified several potential benefits beyond gait training, including pain management, reduced muscle tightness, maintenance of bone density, improved bowel and bladder function, better posture and body alignment and increased opportunities for exercise and physical activity.
As rehabilitation technology evolves, tools like the exoskeleton help patients with SCI participate more actively in therapy, increase opportunities for gait training and build strength, confidence and mobility throughout their rehabilitation journey.
