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Effects of robot-assisted gait training in stroke patients

2015; Volume: 22; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.11606/issn.2317-0190.v22i1a103899

2317-0190

Juliana Morales Ronchi, Pedro Cláudio Gonsales de Castro, Maria Cecília dos Santos Moreira,

Neurological Disorders and Treatments

Stroke patients present significant gait deficits due to the complexity of their disabilities. Robot-assisted gait training (RGT), in addition to reducing the therapist’s physical overload, ensures a simpler and safer environment for gait training, in which symmetrical and constant movement patterns of the lower limbs can be developed at higher speeds, and allows for a longer therapy session. Despite an increasing use of this equipment in rehabilitation, there is a lack of knowledge about the effects that can be promoted in paretic gait, as well as the training protocols applied to achieve them. Objective: Thus, this study aimed to assess the current evidence for efficacy of RGT in post-stroke individuals, with emphasis on gait performance. Method: For this, a survey of studies published in the last 10 years (2003-2013) with the terms “stroke” and “gait” and “robotics” was conducted in the PubMed, MedLine and LILACS databases. Results: Five studies were selected that met the inclusion criteria, including using the Lokomat robotic device (Hocoma, Volketswil) for gait training in post-stroke patients. The results obtained for each study considered the gains in linear gait parameters (speed and distance traveled) promoted by robotic therapy compared to conventional therapy. Conclusion: The data suggest that the use of robotic therapy in gait rehabilitation of post-stroke patients does not produce any more gains than those obtained with conventional therapy.