INTRODUCTION Gait exercise assist robot (GEAR), a gait rehabilitation robot developed for poststroke gait disorder, has been shown to improve walking speed and to improve the poststroke gait pattern. However, the persistence of its beneficial effect has not been clarified. In this matched case-control study, we assessed the durability of the effectiveness of GEAR training in patients with subacute stroke on the basis of clinical evaluation and three-dimensional (3D) gait analysis. METHODS Gait data of 10 patients who underwent GEAR intervention program and 10 patients matched for age, height, sex, affected side, type of stroke, and initial gait ability who underwent conventional therapy were extracted from database. The outcome measures were walk score of Functional Independence Measure (FIM-walk), Stroke Impairment Assessment Set total lower limb motor function score (SIAS-L/E), and 3D gait analysis data (spatiotemporal factors and abnormal gait patter indices) at three time points: baseline, at the end of intervention, and within 1 week before discharge. RESULTS In the GEAR group, the FIM-walk score, SIAS-L/E score, cadence, and single stance time of paretic side at discharge were significantly higher than those at post-training (p < 0.05), whereas the stance time and double support time of the unaffected side, knee extensor thrust, insufficient knee flexion, and external rotated hip of the affected side were significantly lower (p < 005). However, no significant differences in these respects were observed in the control group between the corresponding evaluation time points. CONCLUSION The results indicated significant improvement in the GEAR group after the training period, with respect to both clinical parameters and the gait pattern indices. This improvement was not evident in the control group after the training period. The results possibly support the effectiveness of GEAR training in conferring persistently efficient gait patterns in patients with poststroke gait disorder. Further studies should investigate the long-term effects of GEAR training in a larger sample.

中文翻译：

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步态运动辅助机器人训练对亚急性中风患者步态能力和下肢功能的持续影响：采用三维步态分析的匹配病例对照研究。

简介 步态运动辅助机器人 (GEAR) 是一种针对中风后步态障碍开发的步态康复机器人，已被证明可提高步行速度并改善中风后步态模式。然而，其有益效果的持续性尚未得到澄清。在这项匹配的病例对照研究中，我们根据临床评估和三维 (3D) 步态分析评估了 GEAR 训练对亚急性卒中患者的有效性的持久性。方法从数据库中提取10例接受GEAR干预计划的患者和10例接受常规治疗的年龄、身高、性别、患侧、卒中类型和初始步态能力相匹配的患者的步态数据。结果测量是功能独立测量（FIM-walk）的步行评分，卒中障碍评估 设置基线、干预结束时和干预前 1 周内三个时间点的总下肢运动功能评分（SIAS-L/E）和 3D 步态分析数据（时空因素和异常步态模式指数）释放。结果 GEAR 组出院时麻痹侧 FIM-walk 评分、SIAS-L/E 评分、踏频和单站立时间均显着高于训练后（p < 0.05），而站立时间和健侧双支撑时间、伸膝推力、膝关节屈曲不足、患侧髋外旋显着降低（p < 005）。然而，在相应的评估时间点之间，对照组在这些方面没有观察到显着差异。结论 结果表明，GEAR 组在训练期后在临床参数和步态模式指数方面都有显着改善。这种改善在训练期后的对照组中并不明显。该结果可能支持 GEAR 训练在赋予卒中后步态障碍患者持续有效的步态模式方面的有效性。进一步的研究应该在更大的样本中调查 GEAR 训练的长期影响。该结果可能支持 GEAR 训练在赋予卒中后步态障碍患者持续有效的步态模式方面的有效性。进一步的研究应该在更大的样本中调查 GEAR 训练的长期影响。该结果可能支持 GEAR 训练在赋予卒中后步态障碍患者持续有效的步态模式方面的有效性。进一步的研究应该在更大的样本中调查 GEAR 训练的长期影响。