This Article Full Text (PDF) 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 Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Hidler, J. Articles by Hornby, T. G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hidler, J. Articles by Hornby, T. G. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial Evaluating the Effectiveness of the Lokomat in Subacute Stroke

Department of Biomedical Engineering, Catholic University, Washington, DC; Center for Applied Biomechanics and Rehabilitation Research, National Rehabilitation Hospital, Washington, DC, joehidler{at}gmail.com

Diane Nichols, PT

Center for Applied Biomechanics and Rehabilitation Research, National Rehabilitation Hospital, Washington, DC; Physical Therapy Service, National Rehabilitation Hospital, Washington, DC

Marlena Pelliccio, PT

Center for Applied Biomechanics and Rehabilitation Research, National Rehabilitation Hospital, Washington, DC; Physical Therapy Service, National Rehabilitation Hospital, Washington, DC

Kathy Brady, MSPT

Center for Applied Biomechanics and Rehabilitation Research, National Rehabilitation Hospital, Washington, DC; Physical Therapy Service, National Rehabilitation Hospital, Washington, DC

Donielle D. Campbell, PT

Sensory Motor Performance Program, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Illinois

Jennifer H. Kahn, PT

Sensory Motor Performance Program, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Illinois

T. George Hornby, PhD, PT

Sensory Motor Performance Program, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Illinois; Department of Physical Therapy, University of Illinois, Chicago

Objective. To compare the efficacy of robotic-assisted gait training with the Lokomat to conventional gait training in individuals with subacute stroke. Methods. A total of 63 participants <6 months poststroke with an initial walking speed between 0.1 to 0.6 m/s completed the multicenter, randomized clinical trial. All participants received twenty-four 1-hour sessions of either Lokomat or conventional gait training. Outcome measures were evaluated prior to training, after 12 and 24 sessions, and at a 3-month follow-up exam. Self-selected overground walking speed and distance walked in 6 minutes were the primary outcome measures, whereas secondary outcome measures included balance, mobility and function, cadence and symmetry, level of disability, and quality of life measures. Results. Participants who received conventional gait training experienced significantly greater gains in walking speed (P = .002) and distance (P = .03) than those trained on the Lokomat. These differences were maintained at the 3-month follow-up evaluation. Secondary measures were not different between the 2 groups, although a 2-fold greater improvement in cadence was observed in the conventional versus Lokomat group. Conclusions. For subacute stroke participants with moderate to severe gait impairments, the diversity of conventional gait training interventions appears to be more effective than robotic-assisted gait training for facilitating returns in walking ability.

Key Words: Hemiplegia • Rehabilitation • Gait • Recovery of function • Robotics • Walking

Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, Vol. 23, No. 1, 5-13 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1545968308326632


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

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. H. Dobkin Progressive Staging of Pilot Studies to Improve Phase III Trials for Motor Interventions Neurorehabil Neural Repair, March 1, 2009; 23(3): 197 - 206. [Abstract] [PDF]