Article

There is increasing evidence that robot-assisted treadmill training
might be useful for gait rehabilitation after stroke. The aim of this study was
to evaluate the muscle activity of stroke patients during robot-assisted walking
and overground walking, and of a group of able-bodied subjects during overground
walking. DESIGN: Case-control observational study. Subjects: Ten stroke subjects
and 10 able-bodied control subjects. METHODS: Electromyography measurements of 7
lower-limb muscles were made in 3 trials: robotic walking, in which stroke
subjects walked in a robot-assisted gait orthosis; overground walking for the
same group of stroke subjects; and overground walking for control subjects.
Trials were compared with respect to electromyography amplitude of selected leg
muscles. RESULTS: Higher muscle activity during overground walking compared with
robotic walking was found in several muscles during several phases of the gait
cycle. A significant trial x leg interaction revealed smaller differences in
muscle activity between the paretic and non-paretic leg during robotic walking
compared with overground walking. Furthermore, the muscle activity pattern was
not significantly different between control walking and robotic walking, while it
was different between control walking and overground walking. CONCLUSION: Despite
lower muscle activity, robot-assisted treadmill training may elicit a more
symmetrical pattern of leg muscle activity, which approaches that of able-bodied
individuals.

Langue : ANGLAIS