Article

A recent Cochrane Review showed that early robotic training of the
upper limb in stroke survivors can be more effective than other interventions
when improving activities of daily living involving the arm function is the aim
of therapy. OBJECTIVE: We tested for efficacy of the study a protocol which
involved the use of the NeReBot therapy in partial substitution of standard upper
limb rehabilitation in post-acute stroke patients. METHODS: In this dose-matched,
randomized controlled clinical trial, 34 hemiparetic participants with movement
against gravity in shoulder, elbow, and wrist muscle groups were enrolled within
15 days of the onset of stroke. All participants received a total daily
rehabilitation treatment for 120 minutes, 5 days per week for 5 weeks. The
control group received standard therapy for the upper limb. The experimental
group received standard therapy (65% of exercise time) associated with robotic
training (35% of exercise time). Muscle tone (Modified Ashworth Scale), strength
(Medical Research Council), and synergism (Fugl-Meyer motor scores) were measured
at impairment level, whereas dexterity (Box and Block Test and Frenchay Arm Test)
and activities of daily living (Functional Independence Measure) were measured at
activity level. All assessments were performed at baseline, at the end of therapy
(time T1), at 3 months (time T2), and at 7 months (time T3) after entry. All
between-group analyses were tested using nonparametric test with Bonferroni's
adjustments for multiple testing. RESULTS: No significant between-group
differences were found with respect to demographic characteristics, motor,
dexterity, and ADLs at baseline, postintervention (T1) and at follow-up (T2 and
T3). CONCLUSIONS: The robot therapy by NeReBot did not lead to better outcomes
compared with conventional inpatient rehabilitation.

Langue : ANGLAIS