title: Conflicting results of robot-assisted versus usual gait training during postacute rehabilitation of stroke patients: a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: Robot gait training has the potential to increase the effectiveness of walking therapy. Clinical outcomes after robotic training are often not superior to conventional therapy. We evaluated the effectiveness of a robot training compared with a usual gait training physiotherapy during a standardized rehabilitation protocol in inpatient participants with poststroke hemiparesis. This was a randomized double-blind clinical trial in a postacute physical and rehabilitation medicine hospital. Twenty-eight patients, 39.3% women (72±6 years), with hemiparesis (<6 months after stroke) receiving a conventional treatment according to the Bobath approach were assigned randomly to an experimental or a control intervention of robot gait training to improve walking (five sessions a week for 5 weeks). Outcome measures included the 6-min walk test, the 10 m walk test, Functional Independence Measure, SF-36 physical functioning and the Tinetti scale. Outcomes were collected at baseline, immediately following the intervention period and 3 months following the end of the intervention. The experimental group showed a significant increase in functional independence and gait speed (10 m walk test) at the end of the treatment and follow-up, higher than the minimal detectable change. The control group showed a significant increase in the gait endurance (6-min walk test) at the follow-up, higher than the minimal detectable change. Both treatments were effective in the improvement of gait performances, although the statistical analysis of functional independence showed a significant improvement in the experimental group, indicating possible advantages during generic activities of daily living compared with overground treatment.
authors.affiliation: aHabilita, Care & Research Rehabilitation Hospitals, Zingonia bHabilita, Faccanoni Hospital, Sarnico cMechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, University of Brescia, Brescia dIRCCS Don Gnocchi Foundation eDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Taveggia
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borboni
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mulé
authors.forename: Jorge H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Villafañe
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Negrini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010291:Paresis / Q000534:rehabilitation; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012371:Robotics; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation