Robot-Assisted Therapy Combined with Trunk Restraint in Acute Stroke Patients: A Randomized Controlled Study.

BACKGROUND: Reducing the compensatory mechanism by restraining unnecessary trunk movements may help enhance the effectiveness of robot-assisted therapy. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effects of robot-assisted therapy in combination with trunk restraint on upper extremity function and on daily activities in patients with acute stroke (≤ 30days of onset). METHODS: Thirty-six acute stroke patients were randomly assigned to an experimental (n=18) or control (n=18) group. The experimental group performed robot-assisted therapy combined with trunk restraint, while the control group performed only robot-assisted therapy. Both groups were treated for 30 min, 5 days a week, for a total of 3 weeks. The outcome measures included the Fugl-Meyer assessment upper extremity, wolf motor function test, motor activity log, upper extremity muscle strength, and modified Barthel index. RESULTS: After the intervention, both groups showed significant improvements in Fugl-Meyer assessment upper extremity, wolf motor function test, motor activity log, elbow extensor muscle strength, and modified Barthel index (p < 0.05). Post-intervention, the experimental group exhibited greater changes in the Fugl-Meyer assessment upper extremity, motor activity log, and elbow extensor muscle strength (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that robot-assisted therapy in combination with trunk restraint is more effective for improving upper extremity function than only robot-assisted therapy in acute stroke patients.

The Effects of Active Shoulder Exercise with a Sling Suspension System on Shoulder Subluxation, Proprioception, and Upper Extremity Function in Patients with Acute Stroke.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of active shoulder exercise with a sling suspension system on shoulder subluxation, proprioception, and upper extremity function in patients with acute stroke. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty-six patients with acute stroke and shoulder subluxation were randomly assigned into two groups. The study group (n=18) received active shoulder exercise with a sling suspension system, and the control group (n=18) received bilateral arm training for 40 minutes, for five days a week, for four weeks. The outcome measures before and after the intervention included measurement of shoulder subluxation distance, shoulder proprioception, the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) scale, and the manual function test (MFT). RESULTS Comparison of the study group with the control group showed significant differences in all outcome scores post-intervention (p<0.05). The study group had significant improvement in shoulder subluxation distance, shoulder proprioception, the FMA score, and the MFT compared with the control group. There was a significant difference in shoulder subluxation (p=0.001), shoulder proprioception (p=0.046), the FMA score (p=0.002), and the MFT (p=0.007) between the two groups, which favored the study group. CONCLUSIONS Active shoulder exercise with a sling suspension system may be effective in reducing shoulder subluxation, improving proprioception, and upper extremity function in patients following acute stroke.

The effects of the three-dimensional active trunk training exercise on trunk control ability, trunk muscle strength, and balance ability in sub-acute stroke patients: A randomized controlled pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Trunk control ability has been identified as an important early predictor of functional recovery after stroke. OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to investigate the effects of three-dimensional active trunk training exercise on trunk control ability, trunk muscle strength, and balance ability in sub-acute stroke patients. METHODS: Twenty-four sub-acute stroke patients were randomly assigned to an experimental (n= 12) or control (n= 12) group. The experimental group (EG) performed three-dimensional active trunk training exercises using the Space Balance 3D system, while the control group (CG) performed only general trunk training exercises five times per week, for a total of three weeks. The Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), trunk muscle strength, balance ability using the Space Balance 3D system, and Brunel Balance Assessment (BBA) scores were assessed before and after the intervention. RESULTS: Pre-to-post intervention improvement was noted in all outcome measures for both groups (p< 0.05). Post intervention, the TIS, trunk muscle strength, static balance, and BBA scores were significantly higher in the EG than those in the CG (p< 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that the three-dimensional active trunk training exercise may be more effective compared to the general trunk training exercise in improving trunk control ability, trunk muscle strength, and balance ability in sub-acute stroke patients.