scholarly journals Quantitative Assessment of Motor Function by an End-Effector Upper Limb Rehabilitation Robot Based on Admittance Control

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (15) ◽  
pp. 6854
Author(s):  
Chao Qian ◽  
Wei Li ◽  
Tianyu Jia ◽  
Chong Li ◽  
Ping-Ju Lin ◽  
...  

Various rehabilitation robots have been developed to assist the movement training of the upper limbs of stroke patients, among which some have been used to evaluate the motor recovery. However, how to understand the recovery of motor function from the quantitative assessment following robot-assisted rehabilitation training is still not clear. The objective of this study is to propose a quantitative assessment method of motor function based on the force and trajectory characteristics during robotic training to reflect motor functional recovery. To assist stroke patients who are not able to move voluntarily, an assistive training mode was developed for the robot-assisted rehabilitation system based on admittance control. Then, to validate the relationship between characteristic information and functional recovery, a clinical experiment was conducted, in which nine stroke patients and nine healthy subjects were recruited. The results showed a significant difference in movement range and movement smoothness during trajectory tracking tasks between stroke patients and healthy subjects. The two parameters above have a correlation with the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity (FMU) of the involved patients. The multiple linear regression analysis showed FMU was positively correlated with parameters (R2=0.91,p<0.005). This finding indicated that the above-mentioned method can achieve quantitative assessment of motor function for stroke patients during robot-assisted rehabilitation training, which can contribute to promoting rehabilitation robots in clinical practice.

Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyun Jung Kim ◽  
Ye Jin Jo ◽  
Jun Yup Kim ◽  
Jun-taek Hong ◽  
Deog Young Kim

Background and Aims: Robotic rehabilitation therapy has been tried as a novel technology in field of upper extremity rehabilitation of stroke patients. However, the previous trial revealed the additional effect of robotic therapy compared to conservative therapy. We aimed to investigate whether the same intensity robot-assisted arm training(RAT) was more effective on the recovery of motor and improvement of upper limb function than conventional occupational therapy(COT) in subacute first-ever hemiplegic stroke patients (Fig.1). Methods: The clinical assessment included Fugl-Meyer Assessment(FMA), Motricity Index(MI), Functional Independence Measure(FIM), Motor Function Test(MFT), Wolf Motor Function Test(WMFT), Trunk Control Test(TCT), Maximal Voluntary Torques(MVT), Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) for pain, and Active Range of Motion(AROM). The repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare the results of longitudinal analyses between two groups (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: The all parameters measured at baseline did not differ between two groups. Both groups showed significant improvements in FMA, MI, FIM, MFT, WMFT, TCT, MVT, and AROM after treatment (P<0.05). However, the results of longitudinal analyses during the 8-week study period did not show significant difference between two groups except VAS in AROM (p=0.011) and AROM of shoulder adduction (p=0.032) (Table 1). Conclusions: This study did not agree that robot-assisted arm training combined with conventional occupational therapy in subacute post-stroke hemiplegic patients may be superior to the same intensity conventional occupational therapy.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Shangrong Jiang ◽  
Hong You ◽  
Weijing Zhao ◽  
Min Zhang

BACKGROUND: Robot-assisted therapy (RT) has become a promising stroke rehabilitation intervention. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of short-term upper limb RT on the rehabilitation of sub-acute stroke patients. METHODS: Subjects were randomly assigned to the RT group (n= 23) or conventional rehabilitation (CR) group (n= 22). All subjects received conventional rehabilitation therapy for 30 minutes twice a day, for 2 weeks. In addition, the RT group received RT for 30 minutes twice a day, for 2 weeks. The outcomes before treatment (T0) and at 2 weeks (T1) and 1 month follow-up (T2) were evaluated in the patients using the upper limb motor function test of the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) the Motricity Index (MI), the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and the Barthel Index (BI). RESULTS: There were significant improvements in motor function scales (P< 0.001 for FMA and MI) and activities of daily living (P< 0.001 for FIM and BI) but without muscle tone (MAS, P> 0.05) in the RT and CR groups. Compared to the CR group, the RT group showed improvements in motor function and activities of daily living (P< 0.05 for FMA, MI, FIM, BI) at T1 and T2. There was no significant difference between the two groups in muscle tone (MAS, P> 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: RT may be a useful tool for sub-acute stroke patients’ rehabilitation.


Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (11) ◽  
pp. 1200
Author(s):  
Nicola Lamberti ◽  
Fabio Manfredini ◽  
Luc Oscar Lissom ◽  
Susanna Lavezzi ◽  
Nino Basaglia ◽  
...  

Background and Objectives: Robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) could be a rehabilitation option for patients after experiencing a stroke. This study aims to determine the sex-related response to robot-assisted gait training in a cohort of subacute stroke patients considering mixed results previously reported. Materials and Methods: In this study, 236 participants (145 males, 91 females) were admitted to a rehabilitation facility after experiencing a stroke and performed RAGT within a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program. Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and Functional Ambulatory Category (FAC) were assessed at admission and discharge to determine sex-related outcomes. Results: At the baseline, no significant difference among sexes was observed. At the end of rehabilitation, both males and females exhibited significant improvements in FIM (71% of males and 80% of females reaching the MCID cut-off value) and FAC (∆score: men 1.9 ± 1.0; women 2.1 ± 1.1). A more remarkable improvement was observed in women of the whole population during the study, but statistical significance was not reached. When analysing the FAC variations with respect to the total number of RAGT sessions, a more significant improvement was observed in women than men (p = 0.025). Conclusion: In conclusion, among subacute stroke patients, benefits were observed following RAGT during a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program in both sexes. A greater significant recovery for women with an ischemic stroke or concerning the number of sessions attended was also highlighted. The use of gait robotics for female patients may favour a selective functional recovery after stroke.


Author(s):  
Reem M. Alwhaibi ◽  
Noha F. Mahmoud ◽  
Mye A. Basheer ◽  
Hoda M. Zakaria ◽  
Mahmoud Y. Elzanaty ◽  
...  

Recovery of lower extremity (LE) function in chronic stroke patients is considered a barrier to community reintegration. An adequate training program is required to improve neural and functional performance of the affected LE in chronic stroke patients. The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of somatosensory rehabilitation on neural and functional recovery of LE in stroke patients. Thirty male and female patients were recruited and randomized to equal groups: control group (GI) and intervention group (GII). All patients were matched for age, duration of stroke, and degree of motor impairment of the affected LE. Both groups received standard program of physical therapy in addition to somatosensory rehabilitation for GII. The duration of treatment for both groups was eight consecutive weeks. Outcome measures used were Functional Independent Measure (FIM) and Quantitative Electroencephalography (QEEG), obtained pre- and post-treatment. A significant improvement was found in the FIM scores of the intervention group (GII), as compared to the control group (GI) (p < 0.001). Additionally, QEEG scores improved within the intervention group post-treatment. QEEG scores did not improve within the control group post-treatment, except for “Cz-AR”, compared to pretreatment, with no significant difference between groups. Adding somatosensory training to standard physical therapy program results in better improvement of neuromuscular control of LE function in chronic stroke patients.


Author(s):  
Andy Chien ◽  
Fei-Chun Chang ◽  
Nai-Hsin Meng ◽  
Pei-Yu Yang ◽  
Ching Huang ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Robot-assisted gait rehabilitation has been proposed as a plausible supplementary rehabilitation strategy in stroke rehabilitation in the last decade. However, its exact benefit over traditional rehabilitation remain sparse and unclear. It is therefore the purpose of the current study to comparatively investigate the clinical benefits of the additional robot-assisted training in acute stroke patients compared to standard hospital rehabilitation alone. Methods Ninety acute stroke patients (< 3 month) were recruited. All participants received the standard hospital neurorehabilitation comprises 45–60 min sessions daily for 3 weeks. Sixty patients also received an additional 30 min of robot-assisted gait training with the HIWIN MRG-P100 gait training system after each of the standard neurorehabilitation session. Outcome measures included: 1. Berg Balance Scale (BBS); 2. Brunnstrom Stage; 3. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and 4. Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire (TDQ) which were assessed pre-treatment and then after every five training sessions. Results Both groups demonstrated significant improvement pre- and post-treatment for the BBS (robotic group p = 0.023; control group p = 0.033) but no significant difference (p > 0.1) between the groups were found. However, the robotic training group had more participants demonstrating larger BBS points of improvement as well as greater Brunnstrom stage of improvement, when compared to the control group. No significant within and between group statistical differences (p > 0.3) were found for Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire. Conclusion The addition of robotic gait training on top of standard hospital neurorehabilitation for acute stroke patients appear to produce a slightly greater improvement in clinical functional outcomes, which is not transferred to psychological status.


Author(s):  
Humera Ambreen ◽  
Hina Tariq ◽  
Imran Amjad

Abstract Objective: This experimental study on 24 stroke patients aimed at evaluating and comparing the effects of bilateral arm training on upper extremity (UE) motor function between right and left hemispheric chronic stroke patients. Methods: Both groups received the same intervention involving 5 functional tasks for 1 hour, 3 days per week, for a total of 6 weeks. Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity and Wolf-Motor Function Test were applied as outcome measures at baseline and after 6 weeks of training to assess the recovery of function in the affected area. Results: Intra-group analysis showed no significant improvement in the wrist and hand function in the left hemispheric stroke (LHS) (p>0.05), while right hemispheric stroke (RHS) patients did not improve significantly in the coordination/speed domain (p>0.05). Inter-group analysis showed no significant difference between right and left hemispheric stroke patients (p>0.05). Conclusion: Bilateral arm training showed beneficial effects in improving UE function in both RHS and LHS patients. Distal UE function in LHS and coordination and speed of movement in RHS patients did not show any significant improvement. Key Words: Stroke, Upper extremity, Recovery of function, Bilateral arm training. Continuous...


2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 188-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ander Ramos-Murguialday ◽  
Marco R. Curado ◽  
Doris Broetz ◽  
Özge Yilmaz ◽  
Fabricio L. Brasil ◽  
...  

Background. Brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) have been recently proposed as a new tool to induce functional recovery in stroke patients. Objective. Here we evaluated long-term effects of BMI training and physiotherapy in motor function of severely paralyzed chronic stroke patients 6 months after intervention. Methods. A total of 30 chronic stroke patients with severe hand paresis from our previous study were invited, and 28 underwent follow-up assessments. BMI training included voluntary desynchronization of ipsilesional EEG-sensorimotor rhythms triggering paretic upper-limb movements via robotic orthoses (experimental group, n = 16) or random orthoses movements (sham group, n = 12). Both groups received identical physiotherapy following BMI sessions and a home-based training program after intervention. Upper-limb motor assessment scores, electromyography (EMG), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were assessed before (Pre), immediately after (Post1), and 6 months after intervention (Post2). Results. The experimental group presented with upper-limb Fugl-Meyer assessment (cFMA) scores significantly higher in Post2 (13.44 ± 1.96) as compared with the Pre session (11.16 ± 1.73; P = .015) and no significant changes between Post1 and Post2 sessions. The Sham group showed no significant changes on cFMA scores. Ashworth scores and EMG activity in both groups increased from Post1 to Post2. Moreover, fMRI-BOLD laterality index showed no significant difference from Pre or Post1 to Post2 sessions. Conclusions. BMI-based rehabilitation promotes long-lasting improvements in motor function of chronic stroke patients with severe paresis and represents a promising strategy in severe stroke neurorehabilitation.


Author(s):  
Reem M. Alwhaibi ◽  
Noha F. Mahmoud ◽  
Hoda M. Zakaria ◽  
Wanees M. Badawy ◽  
Mahmoud Y. Elzanaty ◽  
...  

Functional impairment of the upper limb (UL) after stroke is a great problem. Finding methods that can improve UL function after stroke is a major concern to all medical service providers. This study was intended to compare the effect of upper limb task specific training (TST) on brain excitability of the affected hemisphere and motor function improvements in patients with left and right stroke. Forty male patients with mild impairment of UL functions were divided into two equal groups; G1 consisted of patients with left hemisphere affection (right side stroke) while G2 consisted of patients with right hemisphere affection (left side stroke). All patients received TST for the affected UL for one hour, three sessions per week for six consecutive weeks. Evaluation was performed twice, pre-, and post-treatment. Outcome measures used were Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) and Box and Block Test (BBT) as measures of UL motor function and Quantitative Electroencephalogram (QEEG) of motor and sensory areas of the affected hemisphere as a measure of brain reorganization post-stroke. Both groups showed improvement in motor function of the affected UL measured by WMFT and BBT with reported significant difference between them. G1 showed greater improvement in motor function of the affected UL post-treatment compared to G2. Additionally, there was a significant increase in peak frequency of motor and sensory areas with higher and significant excitability in G1 only. These findings imply that brain reorganization in the left hemisphere responded more to TST compared to the right hemisphere. Based on findings of the current study, we can recommend adding TST to the physical therapy program in stroke patients with left hemisphere lesions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 495-508
Author(s):  
Stanislava Klobucká ◽  
Robert Klobucký ◽  
Branislav Kollár

BACKGROUND: Robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) allows an intensive gait training in patients with cerebral palsy (CP). There are few evidences on the effectiveness of RAGT in adults with CP. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of RAGT on gross motor function in adolescent and adult patients with bilateral spastic CP and to compare the effect of RAGT with conventional kinesiotherapy. METHODS: Forty-seven patients (mean age 21.2±5.33 years) with bilateral spastic CP were divided into two groups. Twenty-one patients underwent 20 therapeutic units of RAGT and 26 patients underwent 20 therapeutic units of conventional therapy/training (CON). The following parameters were evaluated before (V1) and after the therapy (V2): dimension A (lying and rolling), B (sitting), C (crawling and kneeling), D (standing), E (walking, running and jumping) of the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88). In patients in the experimental RAGT group, these parameters were also evaluated 3–4 months later (V3). RESULTS: Comparing the mean improvements in endpoints in both groups (RAGT vs. CON) after 20 TUs, we observed the statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) and large effect size in all GMFM dimensions and total GMFM improvement in favour of the RAGT group. In RAGT patients, the improvement persisted even 3–4 months after RAGT (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that the intensive RAGT regimen is more effective than conventional therapy in terms of improvements in gross motor functions in adolescent and adult patients with bilateral spastic CP.


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