Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026
A Rehabilitation Program of Exoskeleton-assisted Body Weight-Supported Treadmill Training with Non-immersive Virtual Reality for Stroke Patients
Published on: May 16, 2025
Evaluation of exercise capacity after severe stroke using robotics-assisted treadmill exercise: a proof-of-concept
O Stoller1, E D de Bruin, M Schindelholz
1Institute for Rehabilitation and Performance Technology, Division of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Engineering and Information Technology, Bern University of Applied Sciences, Burgdorf, Switzerland. oliver.stoller@bfh.ch
Robotics-assisted treadmill exercise (RATE) is feasible for evaluating aerobic capacity in severe stroke survivors. Constant load testing with body weight support showed promise, but incremental testing requires further development for optimal patient engagement.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Robotics-assisted treadmill exercise (RATE) is increasingly used for motor recovery in early post-stroke rehabilitation.
- Individuals with severe stroke often exhibit low exercise endurance, posing challenges for rehabilitation.
- Developing effective methods to assess aerobic capacity in this population is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate an exercise testing method using RATE to assess aerobic capacity in individuals with severe stroke.
- To compare the effectiveness of constant load testing (CLT) and incremental exercise testing (IET) within the RATE framework.
Main Methods:
- Implemented CLT using body weight support (BWS) control and IET using guidance force (GF) control during RATE.
- Analyzed oxygen uptake parameters, including step change, response kinetics, and peak performance.
- Included three subjects with severe motor impairment 16-23 days post-stroke.
Main Results:
- CLT demonstrated reasonable step change values for oxygen uptake.
- Oxygen uptake response kinetics showed a low goodness of fit during CLT.
- Peak performance parameters were not achieved during IET with GF control.
Conclusions:
- CLT with BWS control is a feasible and safe method for exercise testing in severe stroke patients.
- The developed approach provides reasonable cardiovascular performance data.
- IET with GF control requires further refinement to enhance patient participation and elicit peak performance due to uncoordinated walking patterns.
- Further research is needed to optimize exercise capacity evaluation after severe stroke.
