The Impact of Robot-Assisted Training on Upper Limb Function in Elderly Stroke Patients
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the effects of robot-assisted training on upper limb function in elderly stroke patients. Methods: Seventy elderly stroke patients treated in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department of Jiangsu Provincial Organ Hospital from January 2023 to December 2023 were randomly divided into an intervention group (n = 35) and a control group (n = 35). In addition to conventional rehabilitation and nursing care, both groups received 40 minutes of daily upper limb training. The control group underwent entirely manual training, whereas the intervention group received a combination of 20 minutes of manual and 20 minutes of robot-assisted training. All participants completed this protocol five times weekly for four weeks, with assessments of upper limb motor function and activities of daily living (ADL) conducted pre- and post-intervention. Results: After treatment, both groups showed significant increases in Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA-UE) and Barthel Index (BI) scores compared to before treatment (p < 0.01). The intervention group had higher FMA-UE scores than the control group (p < 0.05), while there was no significant difference in BI scores between the two groups after treatment (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Robot-assisted training can improve upper limb motor function and enhance ADL capabilities in elderly stroke patients.
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