Effects of robot-assisted gait training with active motion visual feedback induced by guidance force on walking speed in patients with chronic stroke: a pilot study

Abstract

Introduction This study aimed to determine the effects of robot-assisted gait training with active movement visual feedback induced by guidance force on walking speed in patients with chronic stroke. Methods A single-subject reversal (A-B) design was applied. overall, 3 patients with chronic stroke underwent robot-assisted gait training with visual feedback displaying active motion of the affected lower limb during the intervention phase. Walking function was measured by using the 10-m walk test (10MWT) and peak knee flexion angle (PKFA) during walking. Results during the intervention phase, the 10MWT score of subjects 1, 2, and 3 improved by 23.95%, 30.95%, and 43.71%, respectively, and the PKFA improved by 8.41%, 15.92%, and 32.25%, respectively. The walking speed and PKFA in all subjects after the training showed improvement when compared with the baseline phase (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Conclusions These findings suggest that robot-assisted gait training with active motion visual feedback and guidance force may be clinically helpful to improve walking recovery after stroke.