Hybrid robot-assisted gait training for motor function in subacute stroke: a single-blind randomized controlled trial.
Yen-Nung Lin, Shih-Wei Huang, Yi-Chun Kuan and 3 others
PMID 36104706WHAT IT FOUND
Adding a hybrid robot gait system to routine inpatient rehabilitation did not improve walking ability or balance compared with extra conventional therapy.
However, it produced greater gains in lower-limb motor function scores at 3 months. Both groups improved similarly in independence.
Key findings
01The hybrid robot-assisted gait training did not show superiority over conventional intervention for overall outcomes immediately after and at the 3-month follow-up.
02Participants in the robot group had significantly higher Fugl-Meyer lower-extremity scores than the control group before and after the intervention and at the 3-month follow-up.
03There were no significant differences between the groups in the number of patients able to walk independently or with an assistive device at the 3-month follow-up.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sample size was small (40 participants), which may limit the detection of differences in secondary outcomes. All participants were non-ambulatory at baseline, so results may not generalize to patients with milder impairments. The control group received extra conventional therapy time, which was active and potentially more beneficial for balance and gait than the passive RAGT. A large proportion of participants continued rehabilitation after the study period, which may have diluted long-term differences.
Declared interests
The authors declare no competing interests. The study was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that robot-assisted gait training improves walking independence or balance. While it improved motor function scores, it did not lead to better walking ability or balance compared to extra conventional therapy.