Effects of arm training with the robotic device ARMin I in chronic stroke: three single cases.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Several clinical studies on chronic stroke conducted with end-effector-based robots showed improvement of the motor function in the affected arm. Compared to end-effector-based robots, exoskeleton robots provide improved guidance of the human limb and are better suited to train task-oriented movements with a large range of motions.

OBJECTIVE:

To test whether intensive arm training with the arm exoskeleton ARMin I is feasible with chronic-stroke patients and whether it improves motor function in the paretic arm.

METHODS:

Three single cases with chronic hemiparesis resulting from unilateral stroke (at least 14 months after stroke). A-B design with 2 weeks of multiple baseline measurements (A), 8 weeks of training (B) with repetitive measurements and a follow-up measurement 8 weeks after training. The training included shoulder and elbow movements with the robotic rehabilitation device ARMin I. Two subjects had three 1-hour sessions per week and 1 subject received five 1-hour sessions per week. The main outcome measurement was the upper-limb part of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA).

RESULTS:

The ARMin training was well tolerated by the patients, and the FMA showed moderate, but significant improvements for all 3 subjects (p < 0.05). Most improvements were maintained 8 weeks after discharge.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study indicates that intensive training with an arm exoskeleton is feasible with chronic-stroke patients. Moderate improvements were found in all 3 subjects, thus further clinical investigations are justified.

• Authors: Tobias Nef, Gabriela Quinter, Roland Müller, Robert Riener
• Journal: Neuro-degenerative diseases (Neurodegener Dis) Vol. 6 Issue 5-6 Pg. 240-51 ( 2009) ISSN: 1660-2862 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 19940461 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Topics

• Aged
• Arm (physiopathology)
• Chronic Disease
• Disability Evaluation
• Exercise Therapy (instrumentation, methods)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Functional Laterality (physiology)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Regression Analysis
• Robotics
• Stroke (physiopathology)
• Stroke Rehabilitation