Robot-assisted upper-limb therapy combined with electromyographic biofeedback after stroke

Objective To study the effects of robot-assisted therapy combined with electromyographic biofeedback (EMGBF) on upper limb function after stroke.Methods Thirty acute stroke patients were randomly divided into two groups of 15.The patients in the control group received a conventional rehabilitation program and EMGBF.The patients in the treatment group received robot-assisted therapy for 30 minutes daily,6 days a week for 3 weeks combined with EMGBF on the basis of the conventional rehabilitation program.Upper limb motor function and ability in the activities of daily living (ADL) were assessed with the Fugl-Meyer upper extremity assessment (FMA) and a functional independence measure (FIM) before treatment,at 3 weeks and 3 months after treatment.Results After treatment the FMA and FIM scores of both groups were significantly better than before treatment.At 3 weeks after treatment there was no significant difference in the average FMA scores of the two groups,but at 3 months after treatment the patients in the treatment group had significantly better scores.No significant differences in FIM scores were observed at 3 weeks or 3 months.Conclusions Robot-assisted therapy combined with EMGBF can improve upper limb motor function significantly in acute stroke patients,and more effectively than EMGBF.But no significant advantage in improvement in ADL performance was observed with Robot-assisted therapy combined with EMGBF over EMGBF. Key words: Robot-assisted therapy;  Electromyography;  Biofeedback;  Stroke;  Upper limbs