Effect of lower limb rehabilitation robot on lower limb motor function of hemiplegic patients after stroke

Abstract

Objective To observe the rehabilitation effect of lower limb rehabilitation robot training on the lower limb motor function of hemiplegic patients after stroke. Methods A total of 60 stroke patients (duration < 6 months) accepted conventional rehabilitation training combined with body weight support treadmill training (BWSTT group, N = 30) or conventional rehabilitation training combined with lower limb rehabilitation robot training (Robot group, N = 30). Fugl - Meyer Assessment Scale for Lower Extremity (FMA-LE) was used to evaluate lower limb motor function. Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was used to evaluate balance function. Lower limb rehabilitation robot torque feedback system was used to evaluate lower limb muscle strength. All evaluations were performed before and after 8-week training.   Results Compared with before training, the FMA-LE score (P = 0.000), BBS score (P = 0.000), hemiplegic side of hip joint feedback torque value (HJTV, P = 0.000) and knee joint feedback torque value (KJTV, P = 0.000) were increased in both groups after 8-week training. Compared with BWSTT group, the hemiplegic side of HJTV (P = 0.000) and KJTV (P = 0.000) were increased in Robot group after 8-week training, while the FMA-LE score (P = 0.118) and BBS score (P = 0.159) had no statistically significant difference between 2 groups.  Conclusions The lower limb rehabilitation robot or body weight support treadmill training combined with conventional rehabilitation training could improve the lower limb motor function of hemiplegic patients after stroke. The lower limb rehabilitation robot training was better than body weight support treadmill training on the recovery of lower limb muscle strength.

DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2017.05.004