Article

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the treatment effects of bilateral robotic priming
combined with the task-oriented approach on motor impairment, disability, daily
function, and quality of life in patients with subacute stroke. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Occupational therapy clinics in medical
centers. SUBJECTS: Thirty-one subacute stroke patients were recruited.
INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomly assigned to receive bilateral priming
combined with the task-oriented approach (i.e., primed group) or to the
task-oriented approach alone (i.e., unprimed group) for 90 minutes/day, 5
days/week for 4 weeks. The primed group began with the bilateral priming
technique by using a bimanual robot-aided device.
MAIN MEASURES: Motor
impairments were assessed by the Fugal-Meyer Assessment, grip strength, and the
Box and Block Test. Disability and daily function were measured by the modified
Rankin Scale, the Functional Independence Measure, and actigraphy. Quality of
life was examined by the Stroke Impact Scale. RESULTS:
The primed and unprimed
groups improved significantly on most outcomes over time. The primed group
demonstrated significantly better improvement on the Stroke Impact Scale strength
subscale ( p = 0.012) and a trend for greater improvement on the modified Rankin
Scale ( p = 0.065) than the unprimed group.
CONCLUSION: Bilateral priming
combined with the task-oriented approach elicited more improvements in
self-reported strength and disability degrees than the task-oriented approach by
itself. Further large-scale research with at least 31 participants in each
intervention group is suggested to confirm the study findings.

Langue : ANGLAIS