Beyond outcomes: patients' lived experience of exoskeleton-assisted gait training in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Ghida Trad, Timothée Lenglet, Giorgia Querin et al.
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In 30 seconds
This qualitative study explored expectations and experiences of Atalante exoskeleton-assisted gait training among 10 ambulatory participants with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in the EXALS study. After completing 18 training sessions, participants took part in semi-structured interviews, analysed using inductive qualitative content analysis. Experiences were generally positive: 7/10 were very satisfied, and 8/10 said they would continue training if it were available. Participants described perceived benefits including improved posture and stability, smoother gait, and less fear of falling, although some effects were short-lived.
Key findings
- Seven of 10 participants were very satisfied with how well training met their expectations.
- Eight of 10 participants said they would continue exoskeleton-assisted gait training if it were available.
- Participants described perceived improvements in posture, stability and gait, and reduced stiffness and fear of falling; some effects were short-lived.
- Compared with conventional physiotherapy, sessions were perceived as more dynamic and walking-focused, with close supervision.
Why it matters
Patient experience adds information that functional outcomes alone may not capture, including acceptability, motivation, perceived benefits and concerns about safety or access. These findings suggest that the value of exoskeleton-assisted training depends not only on its rehabilitative content but also on how well delivery reflects participants’ priorities, autonomy and practical needs.
What to keep in mind
The findings reflect interviews with 10 ambulatory participants after 18 sessions and describe perceived experiences; they do not establish clinical effectiveness or the durability of reported benefits.