Effect of Robot-assisted Training on Upper-limb Function for Stroke Patients / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

Objective:To observe the effects of a self-developed wearable intelligent upper limb rehabilitation robot system on upper limb motor function and activities of daily living of stroke patients. Methods:From August, 2018 to October, 2020, 61 stroke patients with hemiplegia from Beijing Bo'ai Hospital were randomly divided into control group (n = 30) and observation group (n = 31). The control group accepted routine rehabilitation training twice a day, while the observation group accepted routine rehabilitation training once a day and robot-assisted training once a day, for four weeks. All the patients were assessed with Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremities (FMA-UE) and modified Barthel Index (MBI) before and after training, while the active range of motion (aROM) of affected shoulder, elbow and forearm was measured. Results:A case dropped out in the observation group. The scores of FMA-UE and MBI improved in both groups after training (|t| > 4.372, P < 0.001), and the improvement of MBI was more in the observation group than in the control group (t = 2.393, P < 0.05). The aROM of flexion/extension, internal/external rotation and abduction of shoulder, flexion of elbow, and supination/pronation of forearm increased in both groups (|t| > 3.050, P < 0.01), and the improvement of flexion and external rotation of shoulder was more in the observation group than in the control group (|t| > 2.160, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Robot-assisted training based on routine rehabilitation may promote the recovery of upper-limb function for stroke patients.