Article

Robot gait training has the potential to increase the effectiveness of walking
therapy. Clinical outcomes after robotic training are often not superior to
conventional therapy. We evaluated the effectiveness of a robot training compared
with a usual gait training physiotherapy during a standardized rehabilitation
protocol in inpatient participants with poststroke hemiparesis.
This was a
randomized double-blind clinical trial in a postacute physical and rehabilitation
medicine hospital. Twenty-eight patients, 39.3% women (72+/-6 years), with
hemiparesis (<6 months after stroke) receiving a conventional treatment according
to the Bobath approach were assigned randomly to an experimental or a control
intervention of robot gait training to improve walking (five sessions a week for
5 weeks). Outcome measures included the 6-min walk test, the 10 m walk test,
Functional Independence Measure, SF-36 physical functioning and the Tinetti
scale. Outcomes were collected at baseline, immediately following the
intervention period and 3 months following the end of the intervention. The
experimental group showed a significant increase in functional independence and
gait speed (10 m walk test) at the end of the treatment and follow-up, higher
than the minimal detectable change. The control group showed a significant
increase in the gait endurance (6-min walk test) at the follow-up, higher than
the minimal detectable change. Both treatments were effective in the improvement
of gait performances, although the statistical analysis of functional
independence showed a significant improvement in the experimental group,
indicating possible advantages during generic activities of daily living compared
with overground treatment.

Langue : ANGLAIS