Effects of Hand Robot-assisted Training Based on Motor Imagery on Upper Limb Function of Stroke Patients / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

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.