Cyborg Therapy Improves Walking Ability in Patients with ALS

Impact on Quality of Life (QoL) Also Investigated

The research group led by Dr. Takehisa Hirayama, Professor Osamu Kano, and Dr. Harumi Morioka of the Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Toho University, investigated the effects of treatment using the lower limb-type cyborg Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL®) on gait function and quality of life (QoL) in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This study demonstrated a significant improvement in walking ability following HAL® treatment, and provided novel insights into QoL among treated ALS patients. These findings were published online at Frontiers in Neurology on October 14, 2026.

Key Points

A study enrolling 30 patients with ALS revealed that treatment with the wearable cyborg HAL® significantly improved the distance patients could walk during the Two-Minute Walk Test.
The mean walking distance increased from 92.27 m to 104.16 before and after treatment.
Although gait performance improved, no statistically significant changes were observed in health-related quality of life (QoL) throughout the study period.
This study found that patients with ALS tended to have lower physical QoL scores, while their mental QoL remained relatively well preserved.
Future studies are required to clarify the long-term effects of repeated HAL treatment and its impact on the patients’ daily lives and quality of life.

Journal:
Frontiers in Neurology (Published online: October 14, 2026)
Title:
Impact of Hybrid Assistive Limb on Gait Ability and Quality of Life in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Authors:
Harumi Morioka, Takehisa Hirayama, Mari Shibukawa, Tatsuki Sugisawa, Junpei Nagasawa, Sayori Hanashiro, Junya Ebina, Ryuichi Okamoto, Makiko Ogawa, Ikuko Okuni, Yoshitaka Murakami, and Osamu Kano
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2026.1823485

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