Clinical Outcomes of Robot-assisted Arm Rehabilitation in Stroke Patients

OBJECTIVE: We conducted a retrospective data analysis to review the results of robot-assisted arm rehabilitation in post stroke patients during past 2 years and find out positive influences of the outcomes. METHOD: We measured improvements of arm function longitudinally in a group of sixty-four stroke patients, who participated in the robot-assisted arm therapy from January 2012 to December 2013. Treatment session lasted 30 to 40 minutes, 2 to 5 times a week. For at least more than one month, we used the InMotion2.0 (Interactive Motion Technologies, Watertown, MA, USA) and measured outcomes with the Fugl-Meyer assessment-upper extremity (FMA-UE), Korea-modified Barthel index (K-MBI) and InMotion robot arm evaluation index. Also, analysis on the subgroup was carried out. RESULTS: Following the robot-assisted arm rehabilitation, FMA-UE, K-MBI and InMotion robot arm evaluation index were significantly improved compared to baseline. Mean FMA-UE and K-MBI gain were 4.22 +/- 0.76, 7.63 +/- 1.18 in each. However, in the subgroup analysis, the group with less intensity treatment (640 repetition) did not show any significant improvement. CONCLUSION: This is an observational study showing improvements in arm function following robot-assisted arm rehabilitation compared to baseline, which was significant only in the subgroup who received the intervention longer and more intensity.

The Linguistic Validation and Reliability of the Korean Version 'Qualiveen Questionnaire'

OBJECTIVE: To translate the English Qualiveen questionnaire which was developed to measure the specific impact of urinary problems on the quality of life of patients with neurogenic bladder into Korean and validate it. METHOD: First, we made the Korean version Qualiveen questionnaire through translation and cross-cultural adaptation followed by the international guideline. This process consisted of 6 steps including translation, reconciliation, back translation into English and debriefing. And then to assess the reliability and construct validity of the questionnaire, 32 patients with neurogenic bladder conducted the Korean Qualiveen questionnaire twice at an interval between three and four weeks. RESULTS: We translated and arbitrated a total of 151 questions. In step of the backward translation, we went through discussion and corrected 12 questions. We found out that 7 questions delivered inaccurate meanings or were unhandy items such as method of writing age or date in debriefing process. A reliability study revealed strong internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficients above 0.7 for all domains) and test-retest reliability (Pearson's coefficient range from 0.524 to 0.837). The sub-domain strongly correlated with each other (Pearson's coefficient range from 0.625 to 0.936) in the construct validity study. CONCLUSION: The Korean version of the Qualiveen Questionnaire was successfully translated and validated.