Armeo®Spring therapy improves movement efficiency and contributes to a better quality of life.

Abstract

Objectives: The main objective was to explore the effect of exoskeleton-assisted rehabilitation on quality of life in the subacute state of ischemic stroke.

Background: Central upper extremity hemiparesis affects self-care, social participation, and quality of life. Exoskeleton devices serve as a therapeutic tool and an assessment tool that offers precise tracking of patient progress and evaluation of impairment.

Methods: The trial was carried out from April 2022 to September 2023. Twenty-seven patients were randomly assigned to the intervention (14 participants; mean age 64.71 years; 5 women, 9 men) and control group (13 participants; mean age 64.69 years; 6 women, 7 men). Both groups received equal total therapy (10 to 12 sessions, 5 times a week). The intervention group received 30 minutes of Armea®Spring training combined with conventional rehabilitation. The control group was subjected to conventional rehabilitation.

Results: In the comparison between groups, the experimental group achieved significant changes in quality of life, movement efficiency, and functional performance of the upper extremities.

Conclusions: Armeo®Spring therapy combined with usual care led to significantly larger changes in health-related quality of life and upper extremity movement efficiency compared to conventional rehabilitation (Tab. 4, Fig. 3, Ref. 64.) Text in PDF www.elis.sk Keywords: stroke, hemiparesis, health-related quality of life, Armeo®Spring, movement efficiency, activities of daily living.