Exoskeleton-assisted training to enhance lower limb motor recovery in subacute stroke: does timing matter? A pilot randomized trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Lower limb motor recovery, including abnormal muscle synergies, occurs mainly within the first 5-8 weeks after a stroke. This suggests the importance of delivering impairment-focused therapies, such as therapeutic robots that promote symmetric gait, during this time-sensitive period, following the principle of "the earlier, the better."

Objective

First, to compare early robotic training (ERT) with usual care (UC) against UC alone on restoring intralimb muscle synergies and interlimb symmetry during functional tasks; Second, to investigate whether ERT is superior to delayed robotic training (DRT) starting after the proposed time-sensitive period.

Methods

This observer-blinded, randomized pilot trial with crossover design involved 19 nonambulatory adults incl

SUBMITTER: Schroder J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12802626 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature