End-effector lower limb robot-assisted gait training effects in subacute stroke patients: A randomized controlled pilot trial.

BACKGROUND: This pilot study investigated end-effector lower limb rehabilitation robot training effects in subacute stroke patients.

METHODS: Forty-nine stroke patients were randomly assigned to 2 treatment groups: a 30-minute end-effector lower limb rehabilitation robot training plus 1.5-hour conventional physiotherapy (robot group; n = 26), or a 2-hour conventional physiotherapy (control group; n = 23). All patients received 5 treatments weekly for 4 weeks. The functional ambulatory category was the primary outcome and the motricity index, Fugl Meyer assessment-lower extremity, rivermead mobility index, 10 meter walk test, Berg balance scale, and modified Barthel index were secondary outcomes.

RESULTS: All outcome measures significantly improved in both groups after training (P > .05). The robot group improved more in FAC than the control group (P = .005).

CONCLUSIONS: Compared with conventional physiotherapy alone, end-effector lower limb robot-assisted gait training with conventional physiotherapy improved subacute stroke patients walking ability.