title: Robot-assisted walking vs overground walking in stroke patients: an evaluation of muscle activity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  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 × 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute MOVE, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. p.coenen@vu.nl
authors.forename: Pieter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Coenen
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: van Werven
authors.forename: Michiel P M
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: van Nunen
authors.forename: Jaap H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Van Dieën
authors.forename: Karin H L
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Gerrits
authors.forename: Thomas W J
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Janssen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004576:Electromyography; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods*; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*