Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine (대한물리의학회지)

The Korean Society of Physical Medicine (대한물리의학회)
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Effects of Robot-Assisted, Gait-Training-Combined Virtual Reality Training on the Balance and Gait Ability of Chronic Stroke Patients

가상현실훈련과 로봇보행훈련이 만성 뇌졸중 환자의 균형과 보행능력에 미치는 영향

  • Dong-Hoon Kim (Department of Physical Therapy, Gimcheon University) ;
  • Kyung-Hun Kim (Department of Physical Therapy, Daejeon Health University)
  • 김동훈 (김천대학교 물리치료학과) ;
  • 김경훈 (대전보건대학교 물리치료학과)
  • Received : 2024.01.14
  • Accepted : 2024.02.06
  • Published : 2024.05.31
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Abstract

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the effects of robot-assisted gait training combined with virtual reality training on balance and gait ability in stroke patients. METHODS: Thirty-one stroke patients were allocated randomly into one of two groups: robot-assisted gait training combined virtual reality training group (RGVR group; n = 16) and control group (n = 15). The RGVR group received 30 minutes of robot-assisted gait training combined with virtual reality training. Robot-assisted gait training was conducted in parallel using a virtual reality device. In the Control group, neurodevelopmental therapy was performed according to the function of chronic stroke patients. Both groups underwent training for 30 minutes, three times per week for eight weeks. The balance assessment system (BioRescue, Marseille, France), BBS, and TUG were used to evaluate the balance ability. The OptoGait (Microgate Srl, Bolzano, Italy) and 10 mWT were measured to evaluate the gait ability. The measurements were performed before and after the eight-week intervention period. RESULTS: Both groups showed significant improvement in their balance and gait ability during the intervention. RGVR showed significant differences in balance and gait ability compared to the control group groups (p < .05). These results showed that RGVR was more effective on balance and gait ability in patients with chronic stroke. CONCLUSION: RGVR can improve balance and gait ability, highlighting the benefits of RGVR. This study provides intervention data for recovering the balance and gait ability of chronic stroke patients.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by a National Research Foundation Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korean government (MSIT) (NRF-2022R1G1A1012388).

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