Enhancing stroke recovery: the role of upper limb rehabilitation robot-assisted training

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical value of upper limb rehabilitation robot-assisted training in stroke patients.

A total of 101 stroke patients were assigned to either conventional rehabilitation plus robot-assisted upper limb training (n = 50) or conventional rehabilitation alone (n = 51). The Fugl-Meyer Assessment of the Upper Extremity (FMA-UE), Modified Ashworth Scale for Upper Extremity (MAS-UE), Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and quality-of-life outcomes were assessed. Oxygenated haemoglobin (HbO₂) levels in the affected primary motor cortex (M1), premotor cortex (PMC) and supplementary motor area (SMA) were measured.

After treatment, both groups showed improvements in FMA-UE, MAS-UE, ARAT and FIM scores, with no significant difference between the groups. Quality of life improved in both groups; however, the study group had significantly higher post-treatment scores in the environmental, physical, social and psychological domains than the control group (p = 0.000). After treatment, HbO₂ levels in the affected M1, PMC and SMA increased in both groups, with the study group showing higher levels (p < 0.05).

Upper limb rehabilitation robot-assisted training improved quality of life and cortical activation in stroke patients but showed no additional benefit in motor function compared with conventional rehabilitation.