Lower extremity rehabilitation with a Lokomat or Relink robot can better improve the motor function of children with spastic cerebral palsy
10.3760/cma.j.issn.0254-1424.2024.06.005
- VernacularTitle:Lokomat和Relink下肢康复机器人训练对痉挛型脑瘫患儿运动功能影响的比较
- Author:
Zhichong HUI
1
;
Weihang QI
;
Yi ZHANG
;
Huachun XIONG
;
Mingmei WANG
;
Shaoqing LI
;
Dong LI
;
Dengna ZHU
Author Information
1. 郑州大学第三附属医院康复医学科，郑州市儿童脑瘫防治重点实验室，郑州 450052
- Keywords:
Spastic cerebral palsy;
Cerebral palsy;
Robots;
Motor function;
Therapeutic effectiveness
- From:
Chinese Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
2024;46(6):512-517
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To compare the effectiveness of two types of robotic training in improving the lower extremity motor functioning of children with spastic cerebral palsy (SCP).Methods:Twenty-eight children with SCP were randomly divided into a control group and an experimental group, each of 14. Both groups received conventional exercise therapy, paraffin therapy, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, and massage. Both also performed 30 minutes of gait training five days a week for eight weeks assisted by either a Lokomat or a Relink lower limb rehabilitation robot. Before and after the treatment, both groups were evaluated using the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), the Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS), the Modified Tardieu Scale (MTS), the six-minute walk test (6MWT), the Physiological Cost Index (PCI) and their self-selected walking speed (SWS).Results:Significant improvement in all of the measurements were observed in both groups. After the treatment, there were no significant differences between the two group in the average GMFM (section D and E) or PBS scores. The average MTS R1 and R2, SWS, 6MWT and PCI results of the experimental group were, however, significantly better than those of the control group.Conclusion:Applying either the Lokomat or Relink robot in lower extremity rehabilitation improves the lower extremity motor function of children with grade II-III SCP. The Relink robot is the more effective in improving triceps surae spasm and walking ability.
