{"slug": "spinal-neuromotor-rehabilitation-using-a-portable-isokinetic-training-robot", "title": "Spinal neuromotor rehabilitation using a portable isokinetic training robot", "summary": "A lightweight (0.96 kg) portable robot was developed to provide isokinetic resistance training for juveniles with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) type II, integrating a variable stiffness mechanism for safe, customizable rehabilitation. In a clinical trial with six participants, six weeks of robot-assisted training led to significant improvements in lower-extremity motor function, including a 7° improvement in sit-to-stand ability, a 130% increase in peak torque, and physiological muscle hypertrophy. Importantly, participants retained these functional gains even after discontinuing the robot-assisted training and returning to conventional physiotherapy.", "body_md": "Abstract\nMost lower-extremity assistive robots are designed to actively assist gait1-7 without considering long-term neuromuscular adaptations8-11. In this study, we present a lightweight (0.96 kg) robot that administers isokinetic resistance training to sustain neuromuscular rehabilitation after removal. The device integrates a variable stiffness mechanism with a back-drivable damping motor to make available safe, portable, and customizable resistance training to juveniles with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) type II. In a study involving 6 such juvenile participants, significant improvements in lower-extremity motor ability were observed after 6 weeks of robot-assisted training in a clinical trial (NCT06648486). Participants gained the ability to perform sit-to-stand transitions with hands on knees but without external support from an average seated knee flexion angle of 111° to 104°, representing a 7° improvement from pre-intervention. This improvement was accompanied by significantly increased bilateral knee joint function (peak torque: +130%; range of motion: +51%; work: +97%). Significant physiological quadriceps muscle hypertrophy was observed (anatomical cross-sectional area: +12%; volume: +19%; physiological cross-sectional area: +21%) alongside enhanced femoral nerve conduction (compound muscle action potential: +19%), representing physiological changes consistent with the observed functional improvements. Importantly, participants were able to retain their gains after discontinuing isokinetic training and returning to their conventional physiotherapy routines. These results suggest that even temporary exposure to isokinetic resistance training through wearable robotics may facilitate enduring neuromuscular recovery.\nThis is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution\nAccess options\nAccess Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals\nGet Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription\n27,99 € / 30 days\ncancel any time\nSubscribe to this journal\nReceive 51 print issues and online access\n199,00 € per year\nonly 3,90 € per issue\nRent or buy this article\nPrices vary by article type\nfrom$1.95\nto$39.95\nPrices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout\nAuthor information\nAuthors and Affiliations\nCorresponding author\nSupplementary information\nSupplementary Information (download PDF )\nThis file contains Supplementary Methods 1-17, Supplementary Notes 1-16, Supplementary Figures 1-38, Supplementary Tables 1-31 and Supplementary References.\nSupplementary Video 1 (download MP4 )\nRobot design and structure.\nRights and permissions\nAbout this article\nCite this article\nLi, Y., Ren, J., Shu, T. et al. Spinal neuromotor rehabilitation using a portable isokinetic training robot. Nature (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-10642-0\nReceived:\nAccepted:\nPublished:\nDOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-10642-0", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/spinal-neuromotor-rehabilitation-using-a-portable-isokinetic-training-robot", "canonical_source": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10642-0", "published_at": "2026-05-20 00:00:00+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-05-20 23:04:56.657815+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["robotics", "research", "science", "hardware"], "entities": ["Spinal Muscular Atrophy", "SMA type II", "NCT06648486"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/spinal-neuromotor-rehabilitation-using-a-portable-isokinetic-training-robot", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/spinal-neuromotor-rehabilitation-using-a-portable-isokinetic-training-robot.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/spinal-neuromotor-rehabilitation-using-a-portable-isokinetic-training-robot.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/spinal-neuromotor-rehabilitation-using-a-portable-isokinetic-training-robot.jsonld"}}