The effects of robot-assisted walking compared with body weight supported treadmill training for retraining walking ability and improving the gait of hemiplegic patients after stroke
10.3760/cma.j.issn.0254-1424.2012.011.003
- VernacularTitle:下肢康复机器人系统和减重平板训练对脑卒中偏瘫患者步行能力及步态的影响
- Author:
Yan LI
;
Hua WU
;
Yunhai YAO
;
Hu LI
;
Jianming FU
;
Xudong GU
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Lower-limb rehabilitation;
Robots;
Treadmill training;
Walking ability;
Gait
- From:
Chinese Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
2012;(11):810-813
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To compare the effects of robot-assisted gait training with supported treadmill training (BWSTT) for hemiplegic patients after stroke.Methods A randomized,single-blind,controlled study was performed.Forty-eight hemiplegic patients were divided randomly into a BWSTT group and a robot group with 24 in each Both groups received routine rehabilitation training.The robot group also received robot-assisted gait training,while the BWSTT group received treadmill training in which their body weight was supported.Both groups trained 20-30 minutes daily,5 days a week for 8 weeks in addition to their normal rehabilitation sessions.Their lower extremity functions and walking ability were assessed with the simplified Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) and using functional ambulation categories (FACs).Average step length,percentage of loading time on each foot and 3 min walking distance were tested using a Biodex Gait Trainer.All the assessments were administered before and 8 weeks after treatment.Results Both groups showed significant improvements in terms of the FMA,FACs,average step length,loading time on each foot and 3 min walking distance.The robot group,on average,showed significantly better improvements in average step length,percentage of loading time on each foot and 3 min walking distance than the BWSTT group.There was no significant difference in lower extremity function or walking ability in terms of the FMA or FACs.Conclusions Robot-assisted training gives better results than BWSTT in terms of improving average step length,equalizing the loading time on each foot and 3 min walking distance.
