RESUMEN
ObjectiveTo study the effect of upper limb robot-assisted therapy on upper limb function and cerebral cortex activation in stroke patients using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). MethodsFrom January, 2022 to January, 2023, 32 stroke patients in Zhejiang Rehabilitation Medical Center were randomly divided into control group (n = 16) and experimental group (n = 16). Both groups received routine neurological medication and routine rehabilitation. The control group received routine upper limb exercises, the experimental group received upper limb robot-assisted therapy. They were assessed with Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremities (FMA-UE) and fNIRS (oxyhemoglobin, deoxyhemoglobin, and total hemoglobin) before and four weeks after treatment. NIRS_SPM was used for activation analysis, Homer2 was used for blood oxygen concentration analysis. ResultsAfter treatment, the score of FMA-UE increased in both groups (|t| > 5.910, P < 0.001), and was higher in the experimental group than in the control group (t = -2.348, P < 0.05). fNIRS activation results showed that, the activation increased in the experimental group after treatment in channel 17 (F = 9.354, P < 0.01), and it was more than that in the control group (F = 5.217, P < 0.05). fNIRS blood oxygen concentration results showed that, the blood oxygen concentration increased in the experimental group after treatment in channel 17 (F = 12.179, P < 0.01), and it was more than that in the control group (F = 4.883, P < 0.05). ConclusionThe upper limb robot-assisted therapy can improve the upper limb motor function and cerebral cortex activation of stroke patients.