The Effect of Robotic Assisted Gait Training With Lokomat® on Balance Control After Stroke: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Introduction: Disturbances of balance control are common after stroke, affecting the quality of gait and increasing the risk of falls. Because balance and gait disorders may persist also in the chronic stage, reducing individual independence and participation, they represent primary goals of neurore...
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doaj-c54ee942e9274edba37741f9fb5d692e2021-07-06T04:19:16ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952021-07-011210.3389/fneur.2021.661815661815The Effect of Robotic Assisted Gait Training With Lokomat® on Balance Control After Stroke: Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisFederica Baronchelli0Chiara Zucchella1Mariano Serrao2Domenico Intiso3Michelangelo Bartolo4Physiotherapy Center Kiné, Cremona, ItalyNeurology Unit, University Hospital of Verona, Verona, ItalyDepartment of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome Polo Pontino, Latina, ItalyUnit of Neuro-Rehabilitation and Rehabilitation Medicine, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, ItalyNeurorehabilitation Unit, Department of Rehabilitation, HABILITA Zingonia, Ciserano, ItalyIntroduction: Disturbances of balance control are common after stroke, affecting the quality of gait and increasing the risk of falls. Because balance and gait disorders may persist also in the chronic stage, reducing individual independence and participation, they represent primary goals of neurorehabilitation programs. For this purpose, in recent years, numerous technological devices have been developed, among which one of the most widespread is the Lokomat®, an actuated exoskeleton that guide the patient's limbs, simulating a symmetrical bilateral gait. Preliminary evidence suggests that beyond gait parameters, robotic assisted gait training may also improve balance. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to summarize evidence about the effectiveness of Lokomat® in improving balance in stroke patients.Methods: Randomized controlled trials published between January 1989 and August 2020, comparing Lokomat® training to conventional therapy for stroke patients, were retrieved from seven electronic databases. Balance, assessed by means of validated clinical scales, was considered as outcome measure. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale was used to evaluate the methodological quality of the studies. The study protocol was registered on PROSPERO (no. CRD42020197531).Results: After the removal of the duplicates, according to the inclusion criteria, 13 studies were selected, involving 445 subacute or chronic stroke patients. Eleven papers contributed to three meta-analyses. Favorable results for recovery of balance in stroke survivors treated with Lokomat® were shown using Timed Up and Go (pooled mean difference = −3.40, 95% CI −4.35 to −2.44; p < 0.00001) and Rivermead Mobility Index as outcome measures (pooled mean difference = 0.40, 95% CI 0.26–0.55; p < 0.00001). Inconclusive results were found when balance was measured by means of the Berg Balance Scale (pooled mean difference = 0.17, 95% CI −0.26 to 0.60; p = 0.44).Conclusions: Overall, most studies have shown beneficial effects of Lokomat® on balance recovery for stroke survivors, at least comparable to conventional physical therapy. However, due to the limited number of studies and their high heterogeneity, further research is needed to draw more solid and definitive conclusions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2021.661815/fullbalanceLokomat®exoskeletonroboticsstrokeneurorehabilitation |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Federica Baronchelli Chiara Zucchella Mariano Serrao Domenico Intiso Michelangelo Bartolo |
spellingShingle |
Federica Baronchelli Chiara Zucchella Mariano Serrao Domenico Intiso Michelangelo Bartolo The Effect of Robotic Assisted Gait Training With Lokomat® on Balance Control After Stroke: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Frontiers in Neurology balance Lokomat® exoskeleton robotics stroke neurorehabilitation |
author_facet |
Federica Baronchelli Chiara Zucchella Mariano Serrao Domenico Intiso Michelangelo Bartolo |
author_sort |
Federica Baronchelli |
title |
The Effect of Robotic Assisted Gait Training With Lokomat® on Balance Control After Stroke: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |
title_short |
The Effect of Robotic Assisted Gait Training With Lokomat® on Balance Control After Stroke: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |
title_full |
The Effect of Robotic Assisted Gait Training With Lokomat® on Balance Control After Stroke: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |
title_fullStr |
The Effect of Robotic Assisted Gait Training With Lokomat® on Balance Control After Stroke: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |
title_full_unstemmed |
The Effect of Robotic Assisted Gait Training With Lokomat® on Balance Control After Stroke: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |
title_sort |
effect of robotic assisted gait training with lokomat® on balance control after stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
series |
Frontiers in Neurology |
issn |
1664-2295 |
publishDate |
2021-07-01 |
description |
Introduction: Disturbances of balance control are common after stroke, affecting the quality of gait and increasing the risk of falls. Because balance and gait disorders may persist also in the chronic stage, reducing individual independence and participation, they represent primary goals of neurorehabilitation programs. For this purpose, in recent years, numerous technological devices have been developed, among which one of the most widespread is the Lokomat®, an actuated exoskeleton that guide the patient's limbs, simulating a symmetrical bilateral gait. Preliminary evidence suggests that beyond gait parameters, robotic assisted gait training may also improve balance. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to summarize evidence about the effectiveness of Lokomat® in improving balance in stroke patients.Methods: Randomized controlled trials published between January 1989 and August 2020, comparing Lokomat® training to conventional therapy for stroke patients, were retrieved from seven electronic databases. Balance, assessed by means of validated clinical scales, was considered as outcome measure. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale was used to evaluate the methodological quality of the studies. The study protocol was registered on PROSPERO (no. CRD42020197531).Results: After the removal of the duplicates, according to the inclusion criteria, 13 studies were selected, involving 445 subacute or chronic stroke patients. Eleven papers contributed to three meta-analyses. Favorable results for recovery of balance in stroke survivors treated with Lokomat® were shown using Timed Up and Go (pooled mean difference = −3.40, 95% CI −4.35 to −2.44; p < 0.00001) and Rivermead Mobility Index as outcome measures (pooled mean difference = 0.40, 95% CI 0.26–0.55; p < 0.00001). Inconclusive results were found when balance was measured by means of the Berg Balance Scale (pooled mean difference = 0.17, 95% CI −0.26 to 0.60; p = 0.44).Conclusions: Overall, most studies have shown beneficial effects of Lokomat® on balance recovery for stroke survivors, at least comparable to conventional physical therapy. However, due to the limited number of studies and their high heterogeneity, further research is needed to draw more solid and definitive conclusions. |
topic |
balance Lokomat® exoskeleton robotics stroke neurorehabilitation |
url |
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2021.661815/full |
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