Abstract Background and aims Introduction. Neuroinflammation contributes to secondary brain injury after ischemic stroke. Elevated IL-6 and TNF-α are associated with worse outcomes, while IL-10 has anti-inflammatory effects. The interaction between robotic rehabilitation and systemic inflammation remains unclear. Aim: To evaluate the effect of robot-assisted rehabilitation on motor recovery and serum cytokine dynamics in subacute ischemic stroke patients. Methods Methods: In this randomized controlled study, 120 patients (2–8 weeks post-stroke) were assigned to robot-assisted therapy plus standard rehabilitation (n=60) or conventional physiotherapy (n=60). Motor outcomes were assessed using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) and modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Serum IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-10 levels were measured before and after a 4-week program. Statistical significance was set at p0.05. Results Results: The robot-assisted group demonstrated greater motor improvement (FMA: 38.4→61.7 vs 37.9→50.3; mRS reduction: 1.8 vs 1.1; p0.01). IL-6 and TNF-α decreased, while IL-10 increased in the intervention group. FMA improvement correlated negatively with IL-6/TNF-α and positively with IL-10. Conclusions Conclusions: Robot-assisted rehabilitation enhances motor recovery and is associated with favorable modulation of systemic inflammatory markers after ischemic stroke. Conflict of interest
Razzaqova et al. (Fri,) studied this question.