Yildiz A, Ahmed I, Mustafaoglu R, Kesiktas FN. Effects of robot-assisted arm training on respiratory muscle strength, activities of daily living, and quality of life in patients with stroke: a single-blinded randomized controlled trial.
Physiother Theory Pract 2024:1-9. [PMID:
38165122 DOI:
10.1080/09593985.2023.2299727]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Post-stroke clinical changes not only affect extremities and trunk muscles but also the respiratory muscles.
PURPOSE
To determine the effect of robot-assisted arm training with conventional rehabilitation (CombT) on respiratory muscle strength, activities of daily living (ADL), and quality of life in patients with stroke and to compare the results with conventional rehabilitation (CR).
METHODS
It was a two-arm, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial in which 66 patients were randomly allocated to either CombT or CR to receive 30 sessions (5/week) over 6 weeks. The respiratory muscle strength (maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP)), activities of daily life (ABILHAND questionnaire), and quality of life (Stroke Impact Scale (SIS)) were measured before and 6 weeks after training.
RESULTS
The CombT group showed significantly better MIP, MEP, and performance in ADLs after 6 weeks of training compared to the CR group (p < .01). The effect size was large for MIP (d = 0.9) and MEP (d = 0.9), whereas medium for performance in ADLs (d = 0.62). Also, the SIS-arm strength (p < .01), hand function (p = .04), ADLs (p = .02), and recovery (p = .04) were significantly better in CombT group with a medium (d = 0.6, d = 0.5, d = 0.5, and d = 0.5, respectively) effect size compared with CR group.
CONCLUSIONS
Both CombT and CR groups improved respiratory muscle strength, performance in ADLs, and quality of life in patients with stroke. However, CombT appears to offer more comprehensive benefits, highlighting its valuable role in respiratory and functional recovery after stroke.
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