Effects of Combined Upper Limb Robotic Therapy in Patients With Tetraplegic Spinal Cord Injury
10.5535/arm.2019.43.4.445
- Author:
Joo Hwan JUNG
1
;
Hye Jin LEE
;
Duk Youn CHO
;
Jung Eun LIM
;
Bum Suk LEE
;
Seung Hyun KWON
;
Hae Young KIM
;
Su Jeong LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, National Rehabilitation Center, Seoul, Korea. entreciel80@korea.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Spinal cord injuries;
Upper extremity;
Robotics;
Rehabilitation
- MeSH:
Animals;
Elbow;
Grooming;
Hand Strength;
Humans;
Inpatients;
Mass Screening;
Occupational Therapy;
Outcome Assessment (Health Care);
Pinch Strength;
Rehabilitation;
Robotics;
Spinal Cord Injuries;
Spinal Cord;
Spinal Injuries;
Upper Extremity
- From:Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine
2019;43(4):445-457
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To confirm the effects of combined upper limb robotic therapy (RT) as compared to conventional occupational therapy (OT) in tetraplegic spinal cord injury (SCI) patients and to suggest the optimized treatment guidelines of combined upper limb RT. METHODS: After subject recruitment and screening for eligibility, the baseline evaluation for outcome measures were performed. We evaluated the Graded and Redefined Assessment of Strength, Sensibility, and Prehension (GRASSP), the American Spinal Injury Association upper extremity motor score, grip and pinch strength, and the Spinal Cord Independence Measurement III (SCIM-III). In this study, the pre-tested participants were divided randomly into the RT and OT group. The utilized interventions included combined upper limb RT using ArmeoPower and Amadeo (RT group), or conventional OT (OT group) in addition to daily inpatient rehabilitation program. The participants underwent 40 minutes×3 sessions×5 weeks of interventions. RESULTS: A total of 30 tetraplegic SCI patients completed entire study program. After 5 weeks of intervention, both groups demonstrated increases in GRASSP-strength and SCIM-III. The manual muscle test scores of elbow flexion, elbow extension, 2-5th metacarpophalangeal extension, and SCIM-III subscores of bathing-upper, dressing-upper, and grooming as well as the GRASSP-qualitative prehension score were noted to have been significantly increased in the RT group as evaluated. The OT group showed improvements in the GRASSP-quantitative prehension score and some items in grip and pinch strength. There was no significant difference between the two groups in almost all measurements except for the SCIM-III bathing-upper subscore. CONCLUSION: Combined upper limb RT demonstrated beneficial effects on the upper limb motor function in patients with tetraplegic SCI, which were comparable with conventional OT.
