title: Clinical Characteristics of Proper Robot-Assisted Gait Training Group in Non-ambulatory Subacute Stroke Patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the clinical characteristics of proper robot-assisted gait training group using exoskeletal locomotor devices in non-ambulatory subacute stroke patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 38 stroke patients were enrolled in a 4-week robotic training protocol (2 sessions/day, 5 times/week). All subjects were evaluated for their general characteristics, Functional Ambulatory Classification (FAC), Fugl-Meyer Scale (FMS), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Modified Rankin Scale (MRS), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), and Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) at 0, 2, and 4 weeks. Statistical analysis were performed to determine significant clinical characteristics for improvement of gait function after robot-assisted gait training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Paired t-test showed that all functional parameters except MMSE were improved significantly (p<0.05). The duration of disease and baseline BBS score were significantly (p<0.05) correlated with FAC score in multiple regression models. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that a baseline BBS score of '9' was a cutoff value (AUC, 0.966; sensitivity, 91%-100%; specificity, 85%). By repeated-measures ANOVA, the differences in improved walking ability according to time were significant between group of patients who had baseline BBS score of '9' and those who did not have baseline BBS score of '9'.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results showed that a baseline BBS score above '9' and a short duration of disease were highly correlated with improved walking ability after robot-assisted gait training. Therefore, baseline BBS and duration of disease should be considered clinically for gaining walking ability in robot-assisted training group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Rehabilitation Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Soo Jeong
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Rehabilitation Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Rehabilitation Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Rehabilitation Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pyo
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Rehabilitation Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Phil
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Rehabilitation Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Mun-Hee
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Korea National Rehabilitation Research Institute, National Rehabilitation Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Gyu Lee
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Rehabilitation Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Joo
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Gait; Neurologic gait disorders; Physical therapy modalities; Rehabilitation; Stroke