Background

Although the Gait Exercise Assist Robot (GEAR) has been reported to effectively improve gait of hemiplegic patients, no study has investigated its use in chronic stroke patients. It is possible to facilitate gait reorganization by gait training with less compensation using the GEAR even in chronic stroke patients.

Research question

What are the effects of GEAR training on the abnormal gait patterns of chronic stroke subjects?

Methods

Subjects were randomly assigned to either the GEAR group (n = 8) or the treadmill group (n = 11). Each group underwent 20 sessions (40 min/day, 5 days/week). The changes in the 10 types of abnormal gait patterns were evaluated using a three-dimensional motion analysis system and the Global Rating of Change (GRC) scale before and after the intervention, and at 1-month and 3-month follow-up assessment.

Results

In the GEAR group, hip hiking at a 1-month follow-up assessment was markedly lesser than that before the intervention, and the excessive hip external rotation at 3-month follow-up assessment was notably lesser than that after the intervention, but the change in excessive hip external rotation was in the normal range. In the treadmill group, knee extensor thrust at a 1-month follow-up assessment was strikingly lesser than that before the intervention, but the difference was in the normal range. In the GEAR group, the GRC scale scores were considerably higher after the intervention, at a 1-month, and 3-month follow-up assessment than those before the intervention. But, in the treadmill group, only the GRC scale score at a 1-month follow-up assessment was visibly higher than that before the intervention.

Significance

Gait training using the GEAR may be more effective than treadmill-training in improving the swing phase in chronic stroke subjects.

中文翻译：

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通过使用步态运动辅助机器人（GEAR）改善慢性中风患者的异常步态模式：一项随机，对照，试验性试验。

背景

尽管据报道，步态运动辅助机器人（GEAR）可有效改善偏瘫患者的步态，但尚无研究调查其在慢性中风患者中的使用。即使在慢性卒中患者中，也可以通过使用GEAR进行较少补偿的步态训练来促进步态重组。

研究问题

GEAR训练对慢性中风患者步态异常的影响如何？

方法

将受试者随机分为GEAR组（n = 8）或跑步机组（n = 11）。每个小组进行20节（40分钟/天，5天/周）。在干预前后，以及在1个月和3个月的随访评估中，使用三维运动分析系统和全球变化评分（GRC）量表评估了10种类型的异常步态模式的变化。

结果

在GEAR组中，在1个月的随访评估中髋关节远足明显少于干预前，而在3个月的随访评估中髋关节外旋过度明显少于干预后。髋关节外旋过度变化在正常范围内。在跑步机组中，在1个月的随访评估中，膝伸肌的推力明显小于干预前，但差异在正常范围内。在GEAR组中，在干预后的1个月和3个月的随访评估中，GRC量表评分明显高于干预前。但是，在跑步机组中，仅在1个月的随访评估中GRC量表分数明显高于干预前。

意义

使用GEAR进行的步态训练可能比跑步机训练更有效地改善慢性卒中患者的摆动阶段。