The effect of the GENTLE/s robot-mediated therapy system on arm function after stroke.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of robot-mediated therapy on arm dysfunction post stroke.


METHODS
A series of single-case studies using a randomized multiple baseline design with ABC or ACB order. Subjects (n = 20) had a baseline length of 8, 9 or 10 data points. They continued measurement during the B - robot-mediated therapy and C - sling suspension phases.


METHODS
Physiotherapy department, teaching hospital.


METHODS
Twenty subjects with varying degrees of motor and sensory deficit completed the study. Subjects attended three times a week, with each phase lasting three weeks.


METHODS
In the robot-mediated therapy phase they practised three functional exercises with haptic and visual feedback from the system. In the sling suspension phase they practised three single-plane exercises. Each treatment phase was three weeks long.


METHODS
The range of active shoulder flexion, the Fugl-Meyer motor assessment and the Motor Assessment Scale were measured at each visit.


RESULTS
Each subject had a varied response to the measurement and intervention phases. The rate of recovery was greater during the robot-mediated therapy phase than in the baseline phase for the majority of subjects. The rate of recovery during the robot-mediated therapy phase was also greater than that during the sling suspension phase for most subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
The positive treatment effect for both groups suggests that robot-mediated therapy can have a treatment effect greater than the same duration of non-functional exercises. Further studies investigating the optimal duration of treatment in the form of a randomized controlled trial are warranted.
Coote
Susan
S
Department of Physiotherapy, University of Limerick, Limerick. Ireland. Susan.coote@ul.ie
Murphy
Brendan
B
Harwin
William
W
Stokes
Emma
E
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001132:Arm / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015915:Motion Therapy, Continuous Passive / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012371:Robotics; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome