Robotic therapy for patients suffering from stroke after stroke

In a study of robotic therapy in 48 patients inactive after a stroke. Italian researchers found that 24 patients recovered normal gait and 24 patients had normal rehabilitation , although they continued to follow the gait of the electromechanical robot for the next few months. according to the.

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"After 2 years of treatment, many patients (who underwent robotic therapy) were able to walk without support, but the robot therapy was only used in cases of serious illness. " , said Dr. Giovanni Morone, lead researcher, physiotherapist and assistant professor at the Santa Lucia Facility, Institute for Treatment Research in Health Care in Rome, Italy. "However, in some patients, robotic therapy does not seem to bring about significant improvement, so choosing the right treatment for each patient is very important."

Robot therapy (2-year hospital treatment) is the electromechanical device attached to the patient's leg that is controlled by the physiotherapist, by carefully measuring the patient's condition and gradually weighting and walking for each patient.

Patients will undergo three standard tests to assess mobility (walking), including the performance of normal daily activities; Patients will then be classified according to their severity and divided into two groups of patients: high and low mobility.

During the course of treatment, all patients undergo three months of scheduled therapy with two sessions a day, five days a week. The group of patients treated with the robotic therapy will attend 20 exercise sessions in the first month, and will then be treated on a regular basis.

After only 2 years of treatment, only patients with the highest levels of motor impairment who have undergone robotic therapy have improved on walking without support.

Future studies will focus on treatment options, depending on the level of motor impairment, as well as on the timing of post-stroke recovery, said Dr. Giovanni Morone.