This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 1545968307311102v1 22/3/305    most recent References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Google Scholar Articles by Volpe, B. T. Articles by Krebs, H. I. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Volpe, B. T. Articles by Krebs, H. I. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Intensive Sensorimotor Arm Training Mediated by Therapist or Robot Improves Hemiparesis in Patients With Chronic Stroke

Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Burke Institute of Medical Research, Weill Medical College, Cornell University, White Plains, NY, Newman Laboratory, Mechanical Engineering Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, btv3{at}cornell.edu

Daniel Lynch, OT/L

Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Burke Institute of Medical Research, Weill Medical College, Cornell University, White Plains, NY

Avrielle Rykman-Berland, OT/L

Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Burke Institute of Medical Research, Weill Medical College, Cornell University, White Plains, NY

Mark Ferraro, OT/L

Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Burke Institute of Medical Research, Weill Medical College, Cornell University, White Plains, NY

Michael Galgano

Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Burke Institute of Medical Research, Weill Medical College, Cornell University, White Plains, NY

Neville Hogan, PhD

Newman Laboratory, Mechanical Engineering Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Brain and Cognitive Sciences Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge

Hermano I. Krebs, PhD

Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Burke Institute of Medical Research, Weill Medical College, Cornell University, White Plains, NY, Newman Laboratory, Mechanical Engineering Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Department of Neurology, University of Maryland Baltimore

Investigators have demonstrated that a variety of intensive movement training protocols for persistent upper limb paralysis in patients with chronic stroke (6 months or more after stroke) improve motor outcome. This randomized controlled study determined in patients with upper limb motor impairment after chronic stroke whether movement therapy delivered by a robot or by a therapist using an intensive training protocol was superior. Robotic training (n = 11) and an intensive movement protocol (n = 10) improved the impairment measures of motor outcome significantly and comparably; there were no significant changes in disability measures. Motor gains were maintained at the 3-month evaluation after training. These data contribute to the growing awareness that persistent impairments in those with chronic stroke may not reflect exhausted capacity for improvement. These new protocols, rendered by either therapist or robot, can be standardized, tested, and replicated, and potentially will contribute to rational activity-based programs.

Key Words: Stroke • Recovery of function • Rehabilitation.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?