Kim Jiae, Do Jungwha, Bae Cho Rong, Mo Young Hoon, Kim Ji Hye, Kim Dae Yul
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88 Olympic- ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.
J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2025 Aug 2;22(1):173. doi: 10.1186/s12984-025-01674-0.
Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability, significantly impacting patients' mobility and quality of life. Robot-assisted gait therapy (RAGT) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) have individually shown potential in improving gait function in chronic stroke patients. This study investigated the potential effectiveness of combining high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with robot-assisted gait therapy (RAGT) to enhance gait, balance, and lower limb function in patients with chronic stroke.
A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 48 patients with chronic stroke, of whom 44 patients (91.7%) completed the study. Participants were randomly assigned to a control group (treadmill-based gait therapy) or an intervention group (RAGT with HIIT using an end-effector robot). Both groups trained for 30 min, three times weekly, over 8 weeks. HIIT alternated between moderate and high intensities. Outcomes included the 10-meter walk test (10MWT), Functional Ambulation Category (FAC), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Fugl-Meyer Assessment- Lower Extremity (FMA-LE), VO₂max, Modified Barthel Index (MBI), and lean body mass.
Between-group comparisons showed significant improvements in the intervention group in 10MWT (p < 0.001, d = 1.2), FAC (p = 0.009), BBS (p = 0.015), 2MWT (p = 0.005), and FMA-LE (p < 0.001) scores. Additionally, the intervention group demonstrated enhanced 2MWT (p < 0.001) and VO₂max (p = 0.005) within group; however, lean body mass within-group changes were minor in both groups. The superior outcomes in the intervention group highlight the potential combined benefits of combining HIIT with RAGT for intensive, repetitive, and task-specific training.
HIIT integrated with RAGT may be an effective approach for improving the gait and functional outcomes of patients with chronic stroke. This novel combination shows promise for enhancing rehabilitation strategies, with potential implications for optimizing functional recovery and quality of life.
The study was registered with the Clinical Research Information Service (KCT0007659).
中风是导致长期残疾的主要原因，严重影响患者的活动能力和生活质量。机器人辅助步态训练（RAGT）和高强度间歇训练（HIIT）已分别显示出改善慢性中风患者步态功能的潜力。本研究调查了将高强度间歇训练（HIIT）与机器人辅助步态训练（RAGT）相结合对增强慢性中风患者的步态、平衡和下肢功能的潜在效果。
对48例慢性中风患者进行了一项随机对照试验，其中44例患者（91.7%）完成了研究。参与者被随机分配到对照组（基于跑步机的步态训练）或干预组（使用末端执行器机器人进行RAGT与HIIT）。两组均每周训练3次，每次30分钟，共8周。HIIT在中等强度和高强度之间交替进行。结果包括10米步行测试（10MWT）、功能性步行分类（FAC）、伯格平衡量表（BBS）、Fugl-Meyer下肢评估（FMA-LE）、最大摄氧量（VO₂max）、改良巴氏指数（MBI）和瘦体重。
组间比较显示，干预组在10MWT（p < 0.001，d = 1.2）、FAC（p = 0.009）、BBS（p = 0.015）、2MWT（p = 0.005）和FMA-LE（p < 0.001）评分方面有显著改善。此外，干预组在组内2MWT（p < 0.001）和VO₂max（p = 0.005）方面有所增强；然而，两组的瘦体重在组内变化较小。干预组的优异结果突出了将HIIT与RAGT相结合进行强化、重复和特定任务训练的潜在综合益处。
HIIT与RAGT相结合可能是改善慢性中风患者步态和功能结果的有效方法。这种新颖的组合显示出增强康复策略的前景，对优化功能恢复和生活质量具有潜在意义。
该研究已在临床研究信息服务中心注册（KCT0007659）。
