Article

Robot-assisted gait training has the potential to improve
cardiopulmonary fitness after stroke, even for patients who are in the early
stages of recovery and not independent ambulators.
The authors compared the
effects of robot-assisted gait training and conventional physical therapy on
cardiopulmonary fitness. METHODS: . A prospective single-blinded, randomized
controlled study of 37 patients receiving inpatient rehabilitation was performed
within 1 month after stroke onset. The robot-assisted gait training group (n =
20) received 40 minutes of gait training with Lokomat and 60 minutes of
conventional physical therapy each day, whereas the control group (n = 17)
received 100 minutes of conventional physical therapy daily. Using a
semirecumbent cycle ergometer, changes in cardiopulmonary fitness were
investigated using incremental exercise testing. Motor and gait functional
recovery was measured according to changes in the lower-extremity score of the
Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scale (FMA-L), leg score of the Motricity Index (MI-L), and
the Functional Ambulation Category (FAC). RESULTS: . Compared with the control
group, the robot group showed 12.8% improvement in peak VO(2) after training (P <
.05). Compared with the control group, the robot group also improved in FMA-L
score (P < .05). CONCLUSION: . Patients can be trained to increase their VO(2)
and lower-extremity strength using a robotic device for stepping during inpatient
rehabilitation. This training has the potential to improve cardiopulmonary
fitness in patients who are not yet independent ambulators, but that may require
more than 2 weeks of continued, progressive training.
- Coeur

Langue : ANGLAIS