Brain injuries refer to damage in cerebral structures, either vascular or traumatic in origin, leading to impairments in postural, balance, and muscle tone. These manifestations result in significant movement limitations, thus affecting daily activities and increasing the risk of falls, pain, and discomfort. Passive mobilization is a therapeutic approach that can influence joint range of motion and the properties of muscle and connective tissues. Automated devices enable passive movement repetition with greater intensity, reproducibility, and specificity while also reducing the physical strain on physical therapists. However, studies assessing the effects of this intervention on the lower limbs of spastic and hemiparetic patients remain scarce.

This study evaluated the immediate effects of passive mobilization performed with a kinesiotherapy device on spatiotemporal gait parameters in hemiparetic patients.

This clinical trial included 18 hemiparetic patients diagnosed with brain injury. We performed gait assessment using an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) with an accelerometer and gyroscope and evaluated discomfort using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The intervention protocol involved passive kinesiotherapy using an automated device for 30 minutes, with all tests applied pre- and post-intervention.

The intervention improved cadence, symmetry, step length, and propulsion for both the affected and unaffected hemibody, with a significant increase in walking speed (p = 0.02). Step length of both the affected and unaffected limbs, as well as propulsion of the affected limb, showed a moderate effect size.

The results of this study demonstrate that passive mobilization using an automated kinesiotherapy device has immediate effects on gait biomechanics in hemiparetic patients. It is well established that muscle joint complex function depends on the integrity of the mechanical components of the tissue, and the passive kinesiotherapy device protocol suggests that passive mobilization positively impacts components related to muscle-joint integrity.

These findings represent a new perspective on applying automated passive mobilization to complement conventional physiotherapy in neurological rehabilitation. An important point to highlight is that the device is intended for home use and does not replace physiotherapy but should be considered a complementary treatment. This approach can maximize gains and minimize losses, optimizing rehabilitation goals based on the ICF framework, as patients can continue guided rehabilitation at home.