• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.72-82
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• 2021

Purpose: This study used a mixed methods research design in an attempt to verify the effects of robot-assisted rehabilitation on the gait ability of stroke patients with hemiplegia, and thereby further understand the benefits and challenges of stroke patients' experiences relying on robot-assisted rehabilitation. Methods: An exploratory sequential mixed methods study design was used in order to combine both quantitative and qualitative data. For the quantitative data collection, a total of 30 stroke patients with hemiplegia were recruited from one rehabilitation hospital. Qualitative data were collected through individual interviews using semi-structured questionnaires for a group of 15 patients who were currently undergoing robot-assisted rehabilitation. The data were analyzed through qualitative content analysis. Results: As a result of the quantitative analysis, there were significant differences between the two groups in terms of daily living activity patterns, total number of steps, and average walking speed. As a result of the qualitative analysis, the four main themes derived consisted of, 'curiosity about the usage of robot-assisted rehabilitation,' 'pleasure experienced while using the robots,' 'insufficient information about robots,' and 'a lack of education about robot-assisted rehabilitation.' Conclusions: Robot-assisted rehabilitation had a significant effect on the walking ability of stroke patients with hemiplegia. Additionally, stroke patients with hemiplegia experienced difficulty during the course of their robot-assisted rehabilitation, due to a lack of sufficient information on correct usage techniques. These quantitative and qualitative findings could provide the basic foundation for the development of an educational program on robot-assisted rehabilitation.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.273-282
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate effect of robot-assisted hand rehabilitation(Amadeo(R)) on hand motor function in chronic stroke patients. This study used a single-subject experimental design with multiple baselines across individuals. Three chronic stroke survivors with mild to sever motor impairment took part in study. Each participants had 2 weeks interval of starting intervention. Participants received robot-assisted therapy(45min/session. 3session/wk for 6wks). Finger active range of motion(AROM) was assessed by Range of Assessment program in Amadeo(R), and test-retest reliability was verified using Pearson correlation analysis. To investigate effect of Amadeo(R), finger AROM was measured immediately after each sessions and Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Upper extremity, Motor Activity Log, Nine hole peg board test and Jebsen-Taylor hand motor function test were assessed at pre-post intervention. Results were analyzed by visual analysis and comparison of pre-post tests. The test-retest reliability of Range of Assessment was good(r=.99). After robot-assisted therapy, finger AROM of participant 1, 2, and 3 was respectively improved by 18%, 3.6%, and 6% each. Hand motor function of participant 1, 3 was improved on all four tests, but not effect in participant 2. Robot-assisted hand rehabilitation could improve finger AROM and effect on hand motor function in chronic stroke patients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.195-203
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of early Robot-assisted training on gait ability, function and ADL in patients with stroke. Methods: 26 patients with stroke were recruited for this study. The subjects were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (EG) or the control group (CG), with 13 patients in each group. All subjects received a routine physical therapy. The robot-assisted training was for 30 min in the case of the EG subjects. The assessment tools of this study involved the gait ability, balance ability, function and ADL. The measurements were recorded before the intervention and after the intervention. Results: EG subjects and CG subjects, the variables measured after the intervention significantly differed from gait ability, balance ability, function and ADL without the FMA (p<0.05). The FMA was only effective experimental group after intervention. Also, there were significant differences in gait ability, balance ability, function and ADL without the FMA at post-test between the 2 groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: The findings indicate that early robot-assisted training exerts a positive effect on gait ability, balance ability, function and ADL in patients with stroke. This result indicates the possibility of application of the early Robot-assisted training to the management for stroke patients. Further studies are required to generalize the result for this study.

• Journal of the Korean Burn Society
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.31-36
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• 2020

Purpose: Scar contracture influence the outcome of burn patients significantly. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of robot-assisted training for the lower extremity rehabilitation of burn patients. Methods: This pilot study was conducted on 7 burn patients for 8 weeks between January 2019 and November 2019. Two of 7 patients withdrew from this study because one had skin abrasion on the legs which thigh fastening devices were applied on and the other was not participate in the assessment at 4 weeks after training. Final 5 patients received gait training with SUBAR^® and numeric rating scale (NRS), 6-minutes walking test, and range of motion in flexion and extension of knee and ankle joint were evaluated before training, 4 weeks and 12 weeks after training. Results: The subjects had a mean age of 51.8±98 years, mean total burn surface area of 30.8±13.7%, mean duration from injury to 1^st assessment of 102.8±39.3 days. Anyone of 5 patients did not have musculoskeletal or cardiovascular side effects such as increased or decreased blood pressure or dizziness. The significant improvement in NRS, gait speed, and range of motion in knee extension and ankle plantarflexion after robotic training (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Robot-assisted training could be feasible for the rehabilitation of burn patients and it could improve muscle strength and range of motion in lower extremities, and gait function.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.8-12
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• 2023

Purpose: Recently, many studies on robotic rehabilitation have been conducted, but such studies on patients with ankle sprains are lacking. This study aimed to investigate the effects of robot-assisted rehabilitation on the range of motion of the ankle and balance in patients with ankle sprain. METHODS: This study used the A-B-A' design and was conducted for a total of fifteen days. The subjects performed general physical therapy for five days each, during the baseline A and A' periods. In period B, robot rehabilitation was performed for five days, along with general physical therapy. The subjects were evaluated based on weight-bearing lunge test (WBLT), single leg stance (SLS), and functional reach test (FRT). RESULTS: The WBLT, STS, and FRT showed significant improvement in periods B and A' compared to period A, but there was no significant improvement in period A' compared to period B. Conclusion: This study confirmed that robot-assisted rehabilitation was an effective intervention for improving the function of patients with ankle sprain. In the future, a study with a control group comparison should be performed.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.30-40
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• 2015

Robot-assisted rehabilitation therapy has been used to increase physical function in post-stroke patients. The aim of this meta-analysis was to identify whether robot-assisted gait training can improve patients' functional abilities. A comprehensive search was performed of PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Academic Search Premier (ASP), ScienceDirect, Korean Studies Information Service System (KISS), Research Information Sharing Service (RISS), Korea National Library, and the Korean Medical Database up to April, 2014. Fifteen eligible studies researched the effects of robot-assisted gait training to a control group. All outcome measures were classified by International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) domains (body function and structures, activity, and participation) and were pooled for calculating the effect size. The overall effect size of the robot-assisted gait training was .356 [95% confidence interval (CI): .186~.526]. When the effect was compared by the type of electromechanical robot, Gait Trainer (GT) (.471, 95% CI: .320~.621) showed more effective than Lokomat (.169, 95% CI: .063~.275). In addition, acute stroke patients showed more improvement than others. Although robot-assisted gait training may improve function, but there is no scientific evidence about the appropriate treatment time for one session or the appropriate duration of treatment. Additional researchers are needed to include more well-designed trials in order to resolve these uncertainties.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.106-112
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• 2017

Objective: Robot assisted gait training is implemented as part of therapy for the recovery of gait patterns in recent clinical fields, and the scope of implications are continuously increasing. However clear therapy protocols of robot assisted gait training are insufficent. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of robot-assisted gait training applied with guidance force on balance and gait performance in persons with hemiparetic stroke. Design: Two group pre-test post-test design. Methods: Nineteen persons were diagnosed with hemiparesis following stroke participated in this study. The participants were randomly assigned to the unilateral guidance group or bilateral guidance group to conduct robot-assisted gait training. All participants underwent robot-assisted gait training for twelve sessions (30 min/d, 3 d/wk for 4 weeks). They were assessed with gait parameters (gait velocity, cadence, step length, stance phase, and swing phase) using Optogait. This study also measured the dynamic gait index (DGI), the Berg balance scale (BBS) score, and timed up and go (TUG). Results: After training, BBS scores were was significantly increased in the bilateral training group than in the unilateral guidance group (p<0.05). Spatiotemporal parameters were significantly changed in the bilateral training group (gait speed, swing phase ratio, and stance phase ratio) compared to the unilateral training group (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that robot-assisted gait training show feasibility in facilitating improvements in balance and gait performance for subacute hemiparetic stroke patients.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.21-36
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• 2013

Objective : The purpose of this study was to look at a systematic review on the effects of robot-assisted therapy on stroke rehabilitation in upper limbs. Through this comprehensive study, we have to compare the studies. Methods : We systematically examined papers published in journal from June 2012 to September 2012, using EMBASE, MEDLINE, etc. 12 studies(randomized controlled trials) were included in the analyses. Results : Selected 12 studies were Pedro score 2 or more. The primary outcome measure tools including tools for upper extremity function and activities daily of living were used. Through various intervention, Robot-assisted therapy maximizes the effectiveness of intervention. The effects of upper extremity function and functional ability(ADL) by robot-assisted therapy showed significant effect, but no difference exists between the robot-assisted therapy and conventional therapy groups in terms of upper extremity function and functional ability. Conclusions : Robot-assisted therapy has been widely used clinically for stroke patients to maximize the effect had been applied to various interventions. Robot-assisted therapy depending on the methods of intervention showed that the effect of difference. In the future study, the use of robot-assisted therapy applied to a variety of interventions is needed on occupational therapy.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.79-91
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• 2018

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the short-term effect of robot-assisted therapy to improve upper extremity function in subacute stroke. Method : This study was a retrospective study using the medical record. The subjects were 20 patients who were diagnosis with stroke within 6 months. All patients received general rehabilitation intervention during the experimental period and robot-assisted therapy and task-oriented training. Robot assisted therapy was composed of 1 sessions, 1hour per person and task-oriented training was same. For result analysis, descriptive statistics, paired t-test were used. Results : After intervention, all participants got 3D motion analysis about reaching. For the result, there was statistically significant improvement in smoothness in robot assisted therapy(p<.05). there was no statistically significant difference between robot assisted therapy and task-oriented training in speed, time. In this result, we knew the robot assisted therapy can short term effect in elbow joint during arm reaching. Conclusion : Robot assisted therapy is considered as alternative choice in clinical occupational therapy for improving upper extremity function in subacute stage stroke patients.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.295-306
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of robot-assisted gait training on the active ranges of motion, gait abilities, and biomechanical characteristics of gait in patients who underwent lower extremity surgery, and to verify the effectiveness and clinical usefulness of robot-assisted gait training. Methods: This study was conducted on 14 subjects who underwent lower extremity surgery. The subjects participated in robot-assisted gait training for 2 weeks. The active ranges of motion of the lower extremities were evaluated, and gait abilities were assessed using 10-m and 2-min walk tests. An STT Systems Inertial Measurement Unit was used to collect data on biomechanical characteristics during gait. Spatiotemporal parameters were used to measure cadence, step length, and velocity, and kinematic parameters were used to measure hip and knee joint movement during gait. Results: Significant improvements in the active ranges of motion of the hip and knee joints (flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction) and in the 10-m and 2-min walk test results were observed after robot-assisted gait training (p < 0.05). In addition, biomechanical characteristics of gait, spatiotemporal factors (cadence, step length, and velocity), and kinematic factors (gait hip flexion-extension, internal rotation-external rotation angle, and knee joint flexion-extension) were also significantly improved (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study are of clinical importance as they demonstrate that robot-assisted gait training can be used as an effective intervention method for patients who have undergone lower extremity surgery. Furthermore, the findings of this study are clinically meaningful as they expand the scope of robot-assisted gait training, which is currently mainly applied to patients with central nervous system conditions.