Effects of integrating rhythmic arm swing into robot-assisted walking in patients with subacute stroke: a randomized controlled pilot study.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether rhythmic arm swing during robot-assisted walking training improves balance, gait, motor function, and daily living activities in subacute stroke patients.
Results Summary
Both groups improved significantly in all measured parameters, but the experimental group (with rhythmic arm swing) showed greater improvements in balance, motor function, and daily living activities compared to the control group (arm fixation).
Population
Twenty patients with subacute stroke.
Effective Dosage
30 training sessions (frequency not specified).
Duration
Duration not explicitly stated, but 30 sessions were conducted.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
robot-assisted walking training with rhythmic arm swing | increase | all parameters | patients with subacute stroke | - | showed significant improvement | #1 |
robot-assisted walking training with rhythmic arm swing | increase | Berg balance scale scores | patients with subacute stroke | - | appeared to be significantly higher | #2 |
robot-assisted walking training with rhythmic arm swing | increase | Fugl-Meyer assessment scores | patients with subacute stroke | - | appeared to be significantly higher | #3 |
robot-assisted walking training with rhythmic arm swing | increase | modified Barthel index scores | patients with subacute stroke | - | appeared to be significantly higher | #4 |
robot-assisted walking training with rhythmic arm swing | increase | balance, gait, motor function, and activities of daily living | patients with subacute stroke | - | more favorable effects may be obtained | #5 |
This study aimed to identify the effects of rhythmic arm swing during robot-assisted walking training on balance, gait, motor function, and activities of daily living among patients with subacute stroke. Twenty patients with subacute stroke were recruited, and thereafter randomly allocated to either the experimental group that performed the robot-assisted walking training with rhythmic arm swing, or the control group that performed the training in arm fixation. In total, 30 training sessions were carried out. The outcome measures included the 10-m walk test, Berg balance scale, timed up-and-go test, fall index that was measured using the Tetrax system, motor function test of Fugl-Meyer assessment, and modified Barthel index. The patients of both groups showed significant improvement in all parameters after the intervention (P<0.05). The Berg balance scale, Fugl-Meyer assessment, and modified Barthel index scores at post-test appeared to be significantly higher for the experimental group than for the control group (P<0.05). These findings indicate that more favorable effects from robot-assisted walking training in patients with subacute stroke may be obtained by the use of rhythmic arm swing.