Feasibility of Rehabilitation Training With a Newly Developed, Portable, Gait Assistive Robot for Balance Function in Hemiplegic Patients.
10.5535/arm.2017.41.2.178
- Author:
Junhyun SUNG
1
;
Sehoon CHOI
;
Hyunbae KIM
;
Gyuhan LEE
;
Changsoo HAN
;
Younghoon JI
;
Dongbin SHIN
;
Seunghoon HWANG
;
Deokwon YUN
;
Hyeyoun JANG
;
Mi Jung KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. kimmjreh@hanyang.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Robotics;
Stroke;
Hemiplegia;
Gait;
Rehabilitation
- MeSH:
Gait*;
Hemiplegia;
Humans;
Rehabilitation*;
Robotics;
Stroke
- From:Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine
2017;41(2):178-187
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical feasibility of a newly developed, portable, gait assistive robot (WA-H, ‘walking assist for hemiplegia’) for improving the balance function of patients with stroke-induced hemiplegia. METHODS: Thirteen patients underwent 12 weeks of gait training on the treadmill while wearing WA-H for 30 minutes per day, 4 days a week. Patients' balance function was evaluated by the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale (FMAS), Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT), and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) before and after 6 and 12 weeks of training. RESULTS: There were no serious complications or clinical difficulties during gait training with WA-H. In three categories of BBS, TUGT, and the balance scale of SPPB, there was a statistically significant improvement at the 6th week and 12th week of gait training with WA-H. In the subscale of balance function of FMAS, there was statistically significant improvement only at the 12th week. CONCLUSION: Gait training using WA-H demonstrated a beneficial effect on balance function in patients with hemiplegia without a safety issue.
