title: Feedback-controlled robotics-assisted treadmill exercise to assess and influence aerobic capacity early after stroke: a proof-of-concept study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The majority of post-stroke individuals suffer from low exercise capacity as a secondary reaction to immobility. The aim of this study was to prove the concept of feedback-controlled robotics-assisted treadmill exercise (RATE) to assess aerobic capacity and guide cardiovascular exercise in severely impaired individuals early after stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects underwent constant load and incremental exercise testing using a human-in-the-loop feedback system within a robotics-assisted exoskeleton (Lokomat, Hocoma AG, CH). Inclusion criteria were: stroke onset ≤8 weeks, stable medical condition, non-ambulatory status, moderate motor control of the lower limbs and appropriate cognitive function. Outcome measures included oxygen uptake kinetics, peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), gas exchange threshold (GET), peak heart rate (HRpeak), peak work rate (Ppeak) and accuracy of reaching target work rate (P-RMSE).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three subjects (18-42 d post-stroke) were included. Oxygen uptake kinetics during constant load ranged from 42.0 to 60.2 s. Incremental exercise testing showed: VO2peak range 19.7-28.8 ml/min/kg, GET range 11.6-12.7 ml/min/kg, and HRpeak range 115-161 bpm. Ppeak range was 55.2-110.9 W and P-RMSE range was 3.8-7.5 W.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The concept of feedback-controlled RATE for assessment of aerobic capacity and guidance of cardiovascular exercise is feasible. Further research is warranted to validate the method on a larger scale.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aerobic capacity is seriously reduced in post-stroke individuals as a secondary reaction to immobility. Robotics-assisted walking devices may have substantial clinical relevance regarding assessment and improvement of aerobic capacity early after stroke. Feedback-controlled robotics-assisted treadmill exercise represents a new concept for cardiovascular assessment and intervention protocols for severely impaired individuals.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Rehabilitation and Performance Technology, Department of Engineering and Information Technology, Bern University of Applied Sciences , Burgdorf , Switzerland .
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Stoller
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schindelholz
authors.forename: Lukas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bichsel
authors.forename: Corina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.forename: Rob A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: de Bie
authors.forename: Eling D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: de Bruin
authors.forename: Kenneth J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Hunt
mesh_terms: D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D056228:Feedback, Sensory; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D012371:Robotics; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Cardiovascular exercise; constant load testing; human-in-the-loop; incremental exercise testing; non-ambulatory