The official journal of the Korean Society for Neurorehabilitation (KSNR), and Asia-Oceanian Soceity for Neurorehabilitation (AOSNR)
pISSN 1976-8753 eISSN 2383-9910
Open Access, Peer-reviewed
Indexed in PubMed, PubMed Central, DOAJ and Korea Citation Index (KCI)
    Brain Neurorehabil. 2014 Sep;7(2):111-117. Korean.
    Published online Sep 29, 2014.
    https://doi.org/10.12786/bn.2014.7.2.111
    Copyright © 2014 Korean Society for Neurorehabilitation
    Original Article

    Effects of Robot-assisted Arm Training in Patients with Subacute Stroke

    Min Cheol Joo, M.D., Hyo In Park, M.D., See Eung Noh, M.D., Ji Hee Kim, M.D., Hyun Jun Kim, M.D. and Chul Hwan Jang, M.D.
      • Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Institute of Wonkwang Medical Science, Wonkwang University College of Medicine, Korea.
    • Correspondence to: Min Cheol Joo, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Institute of Wonkwang Medical Science, 895 Muwang-ro, Iksan 570-974, Korea. Tel: 063-859-1621, Fax: 063-843-1385, Email: mcjoo68@wku.ac.kr
    Received February 13, 2014; Revised April 13, 2014; Accepted July 29, 2014.

    Abstract

    Objective

    To investigate the effects of robot-assisted arm training on motor and functional recovery of upper limb in patients with subacute stroke.

    Method

    Thirty one subacute stroke patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. Robot-assisted arm training group received robot-assisted therapy using Armeo®Spring (Hocoma Inc., Zurich, Switzerland) for thirty minutes per day and five times every week during four weeks while control group received conventional arm training with same duration and frequency as robotic group. Outcome measures were used manual muscle test (MMT) for motor strength, Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA), Manual function test (MFT) for arm function, Korean-modified Barthel index (K-MBI) for activities of daily living, Korean-mini mental state examination (K-MMSE) and Computerized Neuro-Cognitive Function test software-40 (CNT-40) for cognitive function. All recruited patients underwent these evaluations before and after four weeks robot-assisted arm training.

    Results

    Robot-assisted training on upper limb after subacute stroke showed improvement on motor strength, arm function, and activities of daily living. But change values in terms of MMT, FMA, MFT, K-MBI exhibited a no statistically significant difference compared with conventional group (p>0.05).

    Conclusion

    In patients with upper limb deficits after subacute stroke, Robot-assisted arm training was considered to facilitate motor and functional recovery of upper limb. But robot-assisted arm training did not significantly improve motor and arm function at 4 weeks compared with conventional arm training group. Further research is required about the comparison of conventional rehabilitation therapy group and the questions about the duration, severity of stroke.

    Keywords
    subacute stroke; robot; upper limb; rehabilitation

    Figures

    Fig. 1
    Armeo®Spring robot.

    Tables

    Table 1
    General Characteristics of the Subjects

    Table 2
    Outcome of Robot-assisted Arm Training Group and Control Group

    Table 3
    Clinical variables between Robot-assisted Arm Training Group and Control Group

    Table 4
    Comparisons of Changes in CNT-40 between Robot-assisted Arm Training Group and Control Group

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    MeSH Terms
    Activities of Daily Living
    Arm*
    Humans
    Outcome Assessment (Health Care)
    Rehabilitation
    Stroke*
    Upper Extremity
    Metrics
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