ABSTRACT

Objective : This study was to determine the effect of Robot-assisted Upper limb Training in patients with acute stroke. Methods : Fourteen inpatients were randomly allocated into the experimental group (n=7), who received Robot-assisted Upper limb Training, and the control group (n=7), who received a conventional occupational therapy. Each intervention consisted of a 30 min session once a day, five times a week, for four weeks. To measure the functions of the upper limbs and performance capacities in the activities of daily living and grip power, the Fugl-Meyer assessment-Upper Extremity (FMA-UE), Manual Function Test (MFT), Korean-Modified Barthel index (K-MBI), Grip power were used before and after the intervention. Results : After intervention, both the groups showed significant increased FMA-UE, MFT, K-MBI, Grip power (p<.05). But change values in terms of FMA-UE, MFT, K-MBI, Grip power exhibited a no statistically significant difference compared with conventional group (p＞.05). Conclusion : In patients with upper limb deficits after acute stroke, the Robot-assisted upper limb training was an effective intervention method to facilitate motor and functional recovery of upper limb. Therefore, robot-assisted upper extremity training can be used as an intervention method to support standardized treatment using stable equipment from the beginning of the upper extremity rehabilitation of stroke patients.