Effects of rehabilitation robot for lower-limb on motor function in hemiplegic patients after stroke

Objective: To explore the effects of rehabilitation robot for lower-limb on motor function in hemiplegic patients after stroke.

Methods: Forty-eight hemiplegic patients were divided randomly into treatment (n = 24) and control (n = 24) group. The neuro-facilitation technique was applied for both groups. But the treatment group had also rehabilitation robot for lower-limb training of 10 - 20 min/d, 6 d/week for 8 weeks. All patients were assessed with the Fugl-Meyer lower limb (FMA), 10 m maximum walking speed (MWS), function ambulation category (FAC) classification and the modified Barthel index (MBI)at the time of beginning and 8 weeks later.

Results: Prior to intervention, no significant differences in any parameter existed between two groups. Eight weeks later, all assessment scores of FMA (25.7 ± 3.5), MWS (52 ± 16), FAC (4.3 ± 1.4) and MBI (82 + 17) were significantly better in the treatment group than those FMA (22.8 ± 3.7), MWS (40 ± 17), FAC (3.4 ± 1.3) and MBI (72 ± 14) in the control group.

Conclusions: The application of rehabilitation robot for lower-limb may markedly improve the motor function of lower limb, walking ability and activity of daily living.