ABSTRACT
Background: Anklebot therapy has proven to be effective in improving hemiparetic gait. However, neither ankle torque steadiness nor the relationship between changes in force control and functional tasks after therapy with Anklebot were described.Objective: To assess whether a single session of robotic therapy promotes short-term ankle adaptations that influence ankle torque steadiness and walking speed in individuals with chronic hemiparesis.Methods: A sample of participants who had residual hemiparesis deficits (hemiparesis group; n = 13) and age- and sex-matched healthy control participants (control group; n = 13). For sample characterization, balance, mobility, sensorimotor impairment, and daily living activities performance were measured.Results: Differences in functional tests were identified only when the control and hemiparesis groups (F = 29.1; p = .001) were compared during the 10-metre Walking Test. Regarding the pre- and post-robotic assistance session, no significant difference was observed for any comparison (p > .05), except for the steadiness test, as demonstrated by the standard deviation (F = 7.10; p = .01) and coefficient of variation (F = 6.20; p = .02). The hemiparesis group showed better torque steadiness during dorsiflexion post-robotic assistance therapy (p ≥ 0.02) when compared with pre-robotic assessment. Correlations were identified between steadiness and walking speed variables.Conclusion: People with chronic hemiparesis presented short-term performance gains in torque steadiness, especially during dorsiflexion, after a single robotic therapy session. The robotic therapy did not influence the walking speed, although low to moderate correlations between torque steadiness variables and walking speed were observed.
Subject(s)
Ankle/physiopathology , Gait Disorders, Neurologic/physiopathology , Gait Disorders, Neurologic/rehabilitation , Paresis/rehabilitation , Robotics , Stroke Rehabilitation/methods , Activities of Daily Living , Aged , Case-Control Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pilot Projects , Postural Balance , Torque , Treatment Outcome , Walking SpeedABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Unilateral spatial neglect (USN) is the prevalent feature in patients with right-sided stroke. It is diagnosed through the behavior inattention test (BIT) and has a negative impact on patients affecting both their functional capacity and quality of life. OBJECTIVE: Here, we aimed to evaluate the impact of USN on the quality of life of patients in the chronic phase of stroke. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study with stroke patients with USN. After confirming the presence of stroke through neuroimaging examinations and of USN through the BIT, patients' quality of life was evaluated by using the EUROQOL scale. Spearman's correlation was used to validate the correlation between patients' USN and quality of life, with a p < .05 representing significant results. RESULTS: Eighteen individuals were included. When correlating the value of each domain of the EUROQOL scale with the results of the BIT, we observed a negative correlation between mobility (r = -0.97; p = .000), self-care (r = -0.82; p = .013), usual activities (r = -0.87; p = .005); pain or discomfort (r = -0.88; p = .004), anxiety or depression (r = -0.97; p = .000), and EUROQOL total score (r = -0.97, p = .000). CONCLUSION: After a correlation between the overall EUROQOL and BIT scores, we suggest that the higher the USN degree is in stroke patients, the worse their perceived quality of life tends to be.