Efficacy of Armeo® Spring during the chronic phase of stroke. Study in mild to moderate cases of hemiparesis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of a gravity-supported, computer-enhanced device (Armeo® Spring) for upper limb rehabilitation in chronic stroke patients.


METHODS
We included 23 chronic hemiparetic patients (chronicity: 328 ± 90.8 days; distribution: 17 men and 6 women) aged 54.6 ± 9.5 years, who had sustained ischaemic stroke (n=12) or haemorrhagic stroke (n=11). All patients completed 36 one-hour sessions using the Armeo® Spring system. Arm movement was assessed at the beginning and end of the treatment programme and once more 4 months later. Main outcome measurements covered structure, activity, and function, as per the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health: Modified Ashworth Scale, Motricity Index (MI), Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale (FM), Motor Assessment Scale (MAS), Manual Function Test (MFT), and Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT).


RESULTS
Repeated measures ANOVA showed significant improvement (time effect) for all function scales (P<.01 for FM and MI) and activity scales (P<.01 for MAS, MFT and WMFT-ability, and P<.05 WMFT-time) without significant changes in muscle tone. The post-hoc analysis (Bonferroni) showed different evolutionary patterns for function and activity measurements, and clear benefits related to Armeo® Spring training, especially on activity scales.


CONCLUSIONS
Armeo® Spring is an effective tool for rehabilitating the affected arm in patients with hemiparesis secondary to ictus, even in the chronic stage.
Servicio de NeuroRehabilitación, Hospitales NISA Valencia al Mar y Sevilla-Aljarafe, Fundación Hospitales NISA, Spain. .
C
C
Colomer
A
A
Baldoví
S
S
Torromé
M D
MD
Navarro
B
B
Moliner
J
J
Ferri
E
E
Noé
D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D010291:Paresis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D020127:Recovery of Function; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000502:physiology; D014584:User-Computer Interface