Physiotherapists’ Experiences Using the Ekso Bionic Exoskeleton with Patients in a Neurological Rehabilitation Hospital: A Qualitative Study

Use of bionic overground exoskeletons to assist with neurological rehabilitation is becoming increasingly prevalent and hasimportant implications for physiotherapists and their patients. Yet, there is a paucity of research about the impact of integratingthis technology on physiotherapists’work. The purpose of this study was to explore how the training and implementation ofusing the Ekso robotic exoskeleton with patients affects physiotherapists’work. An exploratory qualitative study of threephysiotherapists working at a neurological rehabilitation centre in Eastern Canada was conducted using one-on-onesemistructured interviews in July 2017. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim, and data was coded and analyzed usingthematic analysis. Six themes emerged from the data: developing organizational capacity; ethical use of technology; benefits ofthe equipment; challenges of the equipment; cognitive workload; and the technological environment. The results suggest thatthe adoption and integration of bionic exoskeletons into rehabilitation practice is not as simple as training physiotherapists andgiving them the device. More research is needed to understand the increased cognitive demands of working with patients usingtechnologically advanced exoskeletons within a dynamic, technology-rich healthcare environment, while managing patientexpectations and ethical use.