Article

Robot-assisted devices are becoming a popular alternative to manual facilitation
in stroke rehabilitation. These devices have the potential to reduce therapist
burden and treatment costs; however, their effectiveness in terms of functional
recovery remains in question. This pilot study compared the outcomes of a stroke
rehabilitation program that incorporates robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) with
a more traditional therapy program that does not. Twenty hemiparetic stroke
patients were recruited at a rehabilitation hospital in Houston, Texas, and were
randomly assigned to 2 groups. The control group (n = 10) received 24 1-hour
sessions of conventional physical therapy, whereas the RAGT group (n = 10)
received 24 1-hour sessions of conventional physical therapy combined with RAGT
on a treadmill. Gait function was assessed before and after treatment by an 8-m
walk test, a 3-minute walk test, and the Tinetti balance assessment. Both groups
showed significant improvement in all 3 outcome measures following treatment (P <
.05), but there was no difference between groups. It is concluded that RAGT may
provide improvements in balance and gait comparable with conventional physical
therapy. A larger multicenter trial is required to investigate the effectiveness
of RAGT in hemiparetic stroke.

Langue : ANGLAIS