Fujii R, Tamari M, Nonaka Y, Tamiya F, Hosokawa H, Tanaka S. Influence of gait exercise using a walking-assist robot for swing-leg motion in hemiplegic stroke patients: A preliminary study focusing on the immediate effect. Jpn J Compr Rehabil Sci 2022; 13: 49-55.
Objective: We analyzed the effect of gait training using a walking-assist robot that assists a subject's knee joint movement and leg swing to achieve toe clearance of the paralyzed-side lower limb during treadmill walking.
Methods: The subjects were 10 hemiplegic stroke patients in a rehabilitation ward. The intervention consisted of gait training using the Welwalk WW-1000 (Welwalk) robot for 40 min. Immediately before and after this intervention, a gait analysis of the patients' treadmill walking was performed by a three-dimensional motion capture system. Statistical analyses compared the foot-to-floor distance and the shortening of hip-toe length (SHTL) of the paralyzed side before and after the intervention, and examined the relationship between the change of lower-limb joint kinematics and toe clearance before and after the intervention.
Results: The post-intervention SHTL was significantly lower compared to before the intervention, and there was a significant negative correlation between the change in the SHTL and the knee flexion angle from before to after the intervention.
Conclusion: Gait exercise using the Welwalk could contribute to the acquisition of more normal leg-swing strategies.
Keywords: gait exercise; gait exercise assist robot Welwalk; hemiplegic stroke patients; shortening of hip-toe length; toe clearance.
©Kaifukuki Rehabilitation Ward Association 2022.