[Purpose] The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of
robot-assisted gait training combined with functional electrical stimulation on locomotor
recovery in patients with chronic stroke. [Subjects] The 20 subjects were randomly
assigned into either an experimental group (n = 10) that received a combination of
robot-assisted gait training and functional electrical stimulation on the ankle
dorsiflexor of the affected side or a control group (n = 10) that received robot-assisted
gait training only. [Methods] Both groups received the respective therapies for
30 min/day, 3 days/week for 5 weeks. The outcome was measured using the Modified Motor
Assessment Scale (MMAS), Timed Up-and-Go Test (TUG), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and gait
parameters through gait analysis (Vicon 370 motion analysis system, Oxford Metrics Ltd.,
Oxford, UK). All the variables were measured before and after training. [Results] Step
length and maximal knee extension were significantly greater than those before training in
the experimental group only. Maximal Knee flexion showed a significant difference between
the experimental and control groups. The MMAS, BBS, and TUG scores improved significantly
after training compared with before training in both groups. [Conclusion] We suggest that
the combination of robot-assisted gait training and functional electrical stimulation
encourages patients to actively participate in training because it facilitates locomotor
recovery without the risk of adverse effects.
In this study, the intra- and interexaminer reliability of muscle thickness measurements of the rhomboid major were good. Therefore, we suggest that muscle thickness measurements of the rhomboid major obtained with the RUSI technique would be useful for clinical rehabilitative assessment.
Objective: To investigate and compare the size of the rectus femoris (RF), tibialis anterior (TA), and medial gastrocnemius (GMM) using ultrasound (US) imaging in young, elderly, and very elderly groups. Design: Cross sectional study. Methods: This study consisted of 25 young (age 20 years), 24 elderly (age 65-74 years), and 25 very elderly (age 75-90 years) people with no physical dysfunctions. The cross sectional area (CSAs) of the RF and muscle thickness of the TA and GMM were measured at rest and during contraction using an US system. Results: The CSA of the RF and thickness of the TA and GMM were significantly smaller in the elderly and very elderly groups than in the young group (p<0.05). There was a significant difference of the CSA of the RF at rest and during contraction between elderly and very elderly group (p<0.05). In the comparison of the TA and GMM thickness between elderly and very elderly groups, there were no significant differences except for the TA thickness during contraction. There was a significant difference in the percentage change in RF CSA among the three groups (p<0.05). Conclusions: Our results revealed loss of muscle mass in the RF, TA, and GMM in elderly and very elderly people (≥65 years old). In particular, the greatest age-related decline in muscle mass was observed for the RF. Furthermore, the CSA of the RF declined with aging in the very elderly groups (≥75 years old).
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