Real-world walking. Measured and published.

Six months of home and community robotic walking

Observational cohort · Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation

Participants: 171 children and young adults enrolled, 70.8% with cerebral palsy; 98 returned six-month questionnaires and 91 had paired mobility scores.

Setting: Trexo robotic walker used at home and in the community, with families directing their own use over six months.

Findings: Parents reported statistically significant improvements over six months in functional mobility, physical activity and sleep disturbance. Among the 91 participants with paired mobility scores, seven improved by at least two levels, and median sleep disturbance moved from the moderate to the mild category. Monthly walking minutes and steps held steady while sessions per month decreased.

RoWaCaWa: a family-led walking program

Single-group feasibility study · Disability and Rehabilitation

Participants: 19 enrolled, 15 completed; 10 completers had cerebral palsy.

Setting: Trexo robotic walker loaned for home and community use over 12 weeks. Registered as NCT05473676.

Findings: Completers walked a median 150 minutes, 7,544 steps and five sessions per week, and eight of 15 met the weekly walking target on average. Parent-rated performance of, and satisfaction with, individual goals increased significantly (both p≤0.001). Quality-of-life questionnaires (EQ-5D-Y, Carer-QoL, CP-CHILD) did not change significantly.

Safety: Walking-related events were mostly skin irritation, including one blister.

Physical activity during a single robotic walking session

Single-session study · Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Participants: 15 participants who could not walk independently.

Setting: One robotic walking session in a Trexo, with heart rate measured throughout.

Findings: Participants spent a median 17 minutes physically active during the session. A median 99% of walking time exceeded the study’s activity threshold of 20% heart-rate reserve (interquartile range 57–100%). Median session-average intensity was 30% heart-rate reserve, consistent with at least light physical activity.

Exoskeleton-assisted physiotherapy in school and outpatient contexts

Single-group feasibility study · Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology

Participants: 10 children with cerebral palsy, GMFCS level IV.

Setting: Trexo Plus twice weekly for six weeks in school and outpatient settings, delivered by a two-person physiotherapy team. Registered as NCT05463211.

Findings: All 10 children completed the program, and 15 of 16 clinical feasibility indicators were met. Individual COPM and GAS goals were achieved overall. In their usual supported-stepping walkers, maneuverability improved and therapist assistance decreased in the nine children assessed. Group-level GMFM-88 (mean change +1.0) and one-minute walk distance did not change meaningfully. Children rated comfort positively in 104 of 120 sessions and enjoyment positively in 263 of 312 activities.

Safety: Skin or muscle discomfort was documented in 13 of 120 sessions and was temporary in 11.

Trexo Home: users, usage and initial impacts

Observational cohort · Children

Participants: 70 consented, 66 with usage data and 42 with paired outcomes; 83% with cerebral palsy. These families are also part of the six-month Hilderley cohort above.

Setting: First month of Trexo Home use, directed by families at home.

Findings: Families used Trexo Home a median three times a week, taking 732 steps weekly. Parent-reported sleep disturbance decreased significantly (p=0.0066) within the first month. Bowel function, positive affect and physical activity did not change significantly over this short window.

Families’ experiences of a robotic walker at home

Qualitative interviews · Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology

Participants: Seven parents whose children had used Trexo at home for at least six months; six children had cerebral palsy.

Setting: Interviews with families recruited from the home-use research population above.

Findings: Parents described bonding, enjoyment and new ways for siblings and parents to interact with their child, along with physical changes they noticed. Many described less stress because walking could fit around family life; transfers, transport and cost were the practical challenges raised.

Journey to one million steps in an outpatient clinic

Implementation report and retrospective case series · Pediatric Physical Therapy

Participants: 36 children in an outpatient pediatric program, with three case narratives (two with cerebral palsy, one with holoprosencephaly and developmental delay).

Setting: Trexo Plus at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network, Pennsylvania, over about 27 months alongside concurrent therapy.

Findings: The clinic accumulated one million cumulative Trexo Plus steps across the 36 children. The report describes how staff training, preparation and collaboration with device engineers helped integrate the device into routine therapy. The three cases describe tolerance, stepping practice and progress toward selected therapy goals.

Cardiovascular load during walker-based exoskeleton use

Conference paper · RESNA Annual Conference

Participants: Four children with cerebral palsy, GMFCS levels III–V.

Setting: Up to six Trexo visits at the University of Washington, with heart rate recorded. Related registration: NCT05520359.

Findings: Heart rate rose above resting levels in every measured session. Three of four participants reached peak heart-rate levels classified as moderate or vigorous intensity, measured as the highest 10-second average within a session.

Caregiver priorities for mobility and participation

Conference poster · APTA CSM #3362

Participants: Five caregivers of children with cerebral palsy, GMFCS levels III–V, from the same University of Washington program as the RESNA paper above.

Setting: Interviews after up to six in-lab Trexo sessions.

Findings: Caregivers described enjoyment, exploration and perceived autonomy during supported movement. Their priorities included participation and inclusion, alongside practical access to technology. Cost, device size, setup assistance and availability were the barriers they named.