School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Department of Physiotherapy, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Sci Rep. 2022 Aug 19;12(1):14185. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-18188-7.
Robotic-assisted gait training (RAGT) devices allow intensive high repetition of the gait cycle in individuals with locomotor disability, with reduced therapist effort. In addition to usual rehabilitation, RAGT post-stroke improves the likelihood of regaining independent walking, with maximum efficacy identified in the acute and subacute phases of stroke. This study explores the usability and acceptance of RAGT among persons with stroke in an acute hospital setting and examines users' perceptions of two different modes of robotic assistance provided during rehabilitation. A mixed-methods approach comprised semi-structed interviews of end-user perspectives of RAGT in an acute hospital setting following stroke and two 10-point Likert scales rating how comfortable and how natural robotic gait felt using different assistance modes. Content analysis of qualitative data was undertaken with results synthesised by common meaning units. Quantitative data were reported using summary statistics, with Spearmann's correlation co-efficient examining the relationship between Likert scale ratings and measures of participants' stroke related disability. Ten individuals (6 men; 4 women; mean age of 64.5. ± 13 years) were recruited in an acute hospital setting following admission with a stroke diagnosis. Content analysis of interview transcripts identified discussion units centring around positive aspects of how helpful the device was, negative aspects related to set-up time, weight of the device and multiple instructions delivered during use. Initially participants identified that the device could look intimidating, and they feared falling in the device but they subsequently identified the correct mindset for using the device is to trust the technology and not be afraid. Mean ratings for device comfort (7.94 ± 1.4) and how natural walking felt (7.05 ± 1.9) were favourable. Interestingly, a strong relationship was identified, whereby the higher the level of disability, the more natural participants rated walking in the device during maximal assistance mode (rho = 0.62; p = 0.138). This study suggests individuals in the early phases of stroke perceive RAGT to be acceptable and helpful in the main, with some associated negative aspects. Walking in the device was rated as comfortable and natural. Those with greater disability rated the assisted walking as more natural.
机器人辅助步态训练 (RAGT) 设备允许运动障碍患者在治疗师的帮助下，密集地、高重复地进行步态周期训练。除了常规康复治疗外，RAGT 还可以提高中风后患者独立行走的可能性，在中风的急性期和亚急性期效果最佳。本研究探讨了 RAGT 在急性医院环境中的可用性和接受程度，并检查了使用者对康复期间提供的两种不同机器人辅助模式的看法。采用混合方法，对急性医院中风患者的 RAGT 进行了半结构化访谈，并使用两个 10 分制李克特量表对不同辅助模式下的机器人步态的舒适度和自然度进行评分。对定性数据进行内容分析，并通过共同意义单位对结果进行综合。使用描述性统计报告定量数据，并使用斯皮尔曼相关系数分析李克特量表评分与参与者中风相关残疾测量之间的关系。在急性医院环境中，共招募了 10 名患者（6 名男性；4 名女性；平均年龄 64.5±13 岁），他们在被诊断出中风后入院。对访谈记录的内容分析确定了讨论单元，这些单元围绕着设备的帮助程度、设置时间、设备重量以及使用过程中提供的多项指令等负面因素展开。最初，参与者认为设备可能看起来令人生畏，他们担心在设备中摔倒，但后来他们认为使用设备的正确心态是信任技术，不要害怕。对设备舒适度的平均评分（7.94±1.4）和步行自然度的平均评分（7.05±1.9）均较高。有趣的是，研究还发现了一个很强的关系，即残疾程度越高，参与者在最大辅助模式下对设备中行走的自然度评价越高（rho=0.62；p=0.138）。这项研究表明，中风早期的患者认为 RAGT 是可以接受的，并且在主要方面是有帮助的，同时也存在一些相关的负面因素。患者认为在设备中行走是舒适和自然的。残疾程度较高的患者认为辅助行走更自然。
