Development and Clinical Evaluation of Spring-Assisted Standing Training for Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury: A Safety and Feasibility Study

TL;DR

A new spring-assisted standing device was tested for people with spinal cord injuries, showing it is safe and allows for independent standing practice.

Contribution

A novel spring-assisted device enabling independent sit-to-stand transitions for individuals with spinal cord injury was developed and evaluated for safety and feasibility.

Findings

All six participants completed the training session without adverse events.

Participants performed 5 to 60 repetitions with low perceived exertion (Modified Borg Scale ratings of 0–4).

The device allowed a participant with T4 complete injury to stand without a trunk orthosis.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Standing training is essential for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), yet maintaining regular practice after acute rehabilitation remains challenging. To address the need for more practical and accessible standing equipment, we developed a novel spring-assisted standing training device designed to overcome barriers to regular standing practice. This study aimed to assess the safety and feasibility of our newly developed device in individuals with SCI. Methods: Six participants with chronic SCI (neurological level of injury T4-L3, American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale A-C; 2 females, mean age 41.7 ± 13.4 years) underwent a single session using our chair-based device incorporating passive gas spring mechanisms. We designed this device to enable independent sit-to-stand transitions without electrical power or complex controls. Primary outcomes included safety (adverse events) and feasibility (number of repetitions, Modified Borg Scale). Changes in Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) scores were assessed as exploratory measures. Results: All participants successfully completed training without adverse events. Repetitions ranged from 5 to 60 (median 37), with Modified Borg Scale ratings of 0–4. Notably, the participant with T4 complete injury performed the training without requiring trunk orthosis, demonstrating the device’s inherent stability. MAS sum scores showed a reduction from median 8.75 to 4.25, though this did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.13). Conclusions: Our newly developed spring-assisted standing training device proved safe and feasible for individuals with SCI, including those with complete thoracic injuries. The device successfully enabled independent sit-to-stand transitions with low perceived exertion, potentially addressing key barriers to regular standing practice and offering a practical rehabilitation solution.

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