Effect of robot-assisted bilateral task-oriented upper limb training on upper limb function of patients with stroke / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of robot-assisted bilateral task-oriented upper limb training on upper limb function of patients with stroke. MethodsFrom January, 2021 to June, 2022, 52 patients with stroke in the Second Hospital of Jiaxing were enrolled and randomized into control group (n = 26) and experimental group (n = 26). Both groups received routine treatment. The control group added conventional bilateral upper limb training, while the experimental group added robot-assisted bilateral task-oriented upper limb training, for six weeks. Before and after treatment, the upper limb motor function and activities of daily living were assessed with Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) and modified Barthel Index (MBI). The upper limb proprioception test system was used to measure the average trace error (ATE) and test execution time of the upper limb. ResultsBefore treatment, there was no significant difference in the scores of FMA-UE and MBI, and ATE and test execution time between two groups (P > 0.05). After treatment, all the indexes improved significantly in both groups (|t| > 5.400, P < 0.001), and were better in the experimental group than in the control group (|t| > 2.123, P < 0.05). ConclusionRobot-assisted bilateral task-oriented upper limb training could facilitate to improve the upper limb motor function and activities of daily living of stroke patients.