Effect of robot-assisted gait training on the gait ability of stroke patients

Liu Chang; Qie Shuyan; Xi Jianing

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1009-6574.2019.04.017

Abstract：Objectives? To explore the effect of robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) on the gait ability in patients with hemiplegia after stroke. Methods? From January 2015 to October 2016, a total of 60 patients with hemiplegia were randomly divided into the RAGT group (n=30) and control group (n=30). Both groups received conventional rehabilitation, while the RAGT group was given robot-assisted gait training and control group was given manually assisted gait training 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week for 8 weeks. L-FORCE/HIP/Flex (FHF), 6-minutes walking distance (6MWD), maximum walking speed (MWS) and Fugl-Meyer Assessment of legs (FMA-LE) were evaluated before and after training. Results? There was no significant difference in general information and indexes between the two groups before training (P＞ 0.05). The scores improved in both groups after training (P＜0.05). The FHF, 6MWD, MWS, and FMA-LE of RAGT group was (51.53±22.24)Nm, (80.50±15.62)m, (45.54±29.49)s and (21.81±7.77), respectively, which were significantly better than the control group [(43.65±24.94)Nm, (66.44±19.81)m, (58.89±21.76)s and (15.13±8.67), P＜0.05]. Conclusions? Robot-assisted gait training can effectively improve the gait ability of stroke patients with hemiplegia.