Article

The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of a repetitive task-specific practice regimen
integrating a portable, electromyography-controlled brace called the 'Myomo'
versus usual care repetitive task-specific practice in subjects with chronic, moderate upper extremity impairment. Subjects: Sixteen subjects (7 males; mean
age 57.0 +/- 11.02 years; mean time post stroke 75.0 +/- 87.63 months; 5 left-sided strokes) exhibiting chronic, stable, moderate upper extremity
impairment. Interventions: Subjects were administered repetitive task-specific
practice in which they participated in valued, functional tasks using their
paretic upper extremities. Both groups were supervised by a therapist and were
administered therapy targeting their paretic upper extremities that was 30
minutes in duration, occurring 3 days/week for eight weeks.
One group
participated in repetitive task-specific practice entirely while wearing the
portable robotic, while the other performed the same activity regimen manually.
Main outcome measures:
The upper extremity Fugl-Meyer, Canadian Occupational
Performance Measure and Stroke Impact Scale were administered on two occasions
before intervention and once after intervention. Results:
After intervention,
groups exhibited nearly identical Fugl-Meyer score increases of approximately 2.1
points; the group using robotics exhibited larger score changes on all but one of
the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure and Stroke Impact Scale subscales,
including a 12.5-point increase on the Stroke Impact Scale recovery subscale.
Conclusions: Findings suggest that therapist-supervised repetitive task-specific
practice integrating robotics is as efficacious as manual practice in subjects with moderate upper extremity impairment.

Langue : ANGLAIS