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ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy of robot-assisted training on upper limb motor dysfunction in stroke patients. MethodsRelated literatures were searched in PubMed, Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang Data, SinoMed, VIP data from July 1, 2019 to July 1, 2022. Two researchers screened the studies and extracted the data independently, and evaluated the methodological quality. Rev Man 5.4 was used for meta-analysis. ResultsA total of 19 randomised controlled trials with 1 258 subjects were finally included. The scores of Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity (SMD = 0.55, 95%CI 0.40 to 0.71, P < 0.001), modified Bathel Index (MD = 7.55, 95%CI 6.55 to 8.54, P < 0.001) and Motor Activity Log (SMD = -0.84, 95%CI -1.38 to -0.31, P = 0.002) were better in the experimental group than in the control group. However, no significant difference was found in the scores of Brunnstrom stages (upper extremity) (SMD = 0.61, 95%CI -0.08 to 1.30, P = 0.08) and modified Ashworth Scale (MD = -0.51, 95%CI -1.18 to 0.17, P = 0.14) between two groups. ConclusionRobot-assisted training could significantly improve the motor function of upper limbs in stroke patients.
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ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of upper limb robot-assisted training on cognitive function, upper limb motor function and activity of daily living for subacute stroke patients. MethodsFrom September, 2019 to September, 2020, 65 subacute stroke hemiplegic patients with cognitive impairment were randomly divided into control group (n = 32, two cases dropped) and experimental group (n = 33, three cases dropped). Both groups accepted conventional occupational therapy; and then, the control group accepted conventional cognitive training, while the experimental group accepted upper limb robot-assisted training, for four weeks. They were assessed with Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremities (FMA-UE) and modified Barthel Index (MBI) before and after treatment. ResultsThe scores of MoCA, MMSE, FMA-UE and MBI improved after treatment in both groups (t > 22.11, Z > 4.79, P < 0.001), the MoCA total score and some item-scores, MMSE total score and some item-scores, FMA-UE total score and the score of arm, and score of MBI improved more in the experimental group than in the control group (t > 2.06, Z > 3.19, P < 0.05). ConclusionUpper limb robot-assisted training could facilitate to improve the cognitive function, upper limb motor function and activities of daily living in subacute stroke patients.
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Objective:To observe any improvement in hemiplegic upper limb functioning when transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is combined with robot-assisted upper limb treatment, and analyze the potential mechanism of neural plasticity through diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).Methods:Twenty stroke survivors with hemiplegia were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, each of 10, according to a random number table. Both groups were treated with conventional medication and rehabilitation training using an upper limb robot, while the treatment group also received tDCS daily, with the current increasing from 0 to 1mA over 10 seconds, and then decreasing to 0 over twenty minutes. The experiment lasted for 15 days. The upper extremity portion of the Fugl-Meyer rating scale (UE-FMA) and the Wolf Motor Function Rating Scale (WMFT) were used to evaluate motor functioning before and after the treatment. DTI was also conducted for both groups.Results:After the treatment, the average UE-FMA and WMFT scores of the two groups were significantly higher than before the treatment, with the average UE-FMA score of the treatment group (35.32±13.25), significantly higher than that of the control group (21.80±13.93). After the treatment there were significant differences between the groups in their average FA, rFA and FAasy of the posterior limb of the internal capsule, as well as in FA and the CST length of the central anterior gyrus.Conclusion:tDCS combined with robot-assisted upper limb rehabilitation training can significantly improve the motor functioning of hemiplegic upper limbs, possibly due to neuroplasticity mechanisms that promote CST integrity and symmetry changes. tDCS can be an important adjunct therapy in clinical neurorehabilitation.
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Objective:To explore the effect of robot-assisted training and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on the lower limb function of hemiplegic stroke survivors.Methods:Forty hemiplegic stroke patients were randomly divided into a treatment group ( n=20) and a control group ( n=20). Both groups were given routine rehabilitation training and robot-assisted walking training, but the treatment group was additionally treated with rTMS at 1Hz applied to the primary motor cortex M1 area at an intensity of 80% of the resting motor threshold. The stimulation time was 5 seconds at 5-second intervals, 600 pulses each time, five times a week for 8 weeks. Lower limb motor function, balance and walking function were assessed before and after the intervention using the Fugl-Meyer assessment for the lower extremities, the Berg balance scale and the Holden walking function scale. Results:There was no significant difference between the two groups in any measurement before the training, but after the intervention all of the measurements had improved significantly in both groups, with the average Fugl-Meyer score, Berg score and Holden grading significantly better in the treatment group.Conclusion:Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation can improve the effectiveness of robot-assisted walking training in improving lower limb motor function, balance and walking after a stroke.
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Objective To investigate the effect of hand robot-assisted training based on motor imagery on upper limb function of stroke patients.Methods From November, 2016 to May, 2018, 55 hemiplegic patients with upper limb dysfunction were randomly assigned to control group (n = 25) and experimental group (n = 30). The control group received routine hand motor training, while the experimental group received hand robot-assisted training, for four weeks. They were assessed with simplified Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity (FMA-UE), Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) and Modified Barthel Index (MBI) before treatment (t0), one week of treatment (t1), immediately after treatment (t2) and 2 months after treatment (t3).Results The score of WMFT improved in the experimental group at t1 (P ＜ 0.05), with no significant difference between groups (Z =-0.901, P＞ 0.05). The scores of FMA, WMFT and MBI improved in both groups at t2 and t3 (P ＜ 0.05), and the scores of FMA and MBI improved more in the experimental group than in the control group (Z＞-2.073, t＞ 2.034, P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Hand robot-assisted training based on motor imagery can promote recovery of upper limb function in stroke patients more effective than routine hand function training.