Influence of Robot-Assisted Gait Training on Lower-Limb Muscle Activity in Patients With Stroke: Comparison With Conventional Gait Training

OBJECTIVE: To measure muscle activity before and after robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) in patients with stroke and examine the differences in muscle activity changes compared with conventional gait training (CGT). METHODS: Thirty patients with stroke (RAGT group, n=17; CGT group, n=13) participated in the study. All patients underwent RAGT using a footpad locomotion interface or CGT for 20 minutes for a total of 20 sessions. Outcome measures were lower-limb muscle activity and gait speed. Measurements were performed before the start of the intervention and after the end of the 4-week intervention. RESULTS: The RAGT group showed increased muscle activity in the gastrocnemius, whereas the CGT group showed high muscle activity in the rectus femoris. In the terminal stance of the gait cycle, the gastrocnemius, the increase in muscle activity was significantly higher in the RAGT group than in the CGT group. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that RAGT with end-effector type is more effective than CGT to increase the gastrocnemius muscle activity.