None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Objective was to investigate the efficacy of upper-limb robotic-assisted exercises in promotion of self-care activities in people with subacute cervical spinal cord injury in National spinal injuries rehabilitation centre, Varaždinske Toplice, Croatia Test group comprised of 13 people with tetraplegia (C4-C7, AIS A-D) who underwent standard multi-professional rehabilitation programme with the addition of upper-limb robotic-assisted exercises done for 20 minutes, 5 days/week, through 6 weeks (Armeo Spring, Hocoma AG, Switzerland); the Control group comprised of 12 level, completeness and days-post-injury matched individuals undergoing standard rehabilitation programme, without robotic-assisted exercises. Hypothesis: The addition of robotic exercises would improve patients` self- care skills better, measured by SCIM III (Spinal Cord Independence Measure III) subscale in feeding, dressing and grooming.
Interventions
robotic exercise:
upper-limb robotic-assisted exercises done for 20 minutes, 5 days/week, through 6 weeks (Armeo Spring, Hocoma AG, Switzerland), with the assistance of trained occupational therapist
1. Example of the exercise used:
a) balloons: precision game of collecting balloons in space
b) diving in the sea: perception of depth and space
c) fishing: categorising objects in space
2. Exercises during the workhours with 10 minutes of preparation and 20 minutes of actual training, in dedicated
robotic exercise: upper-limb robotic-assisted exercises done for 20 minutes, 5 days/week, through 6 weeks (Armeo Spring, Hocoma AG, Switzerland), with the assistance of trained occupational therapist 1. Example of the exercise used: a) balloons: precision game of collecting balloons in space b) diving in the sea: perception of depth and space c) fishing: categorising objects in space 2. Exercises during the workhours with 10 minutes of preparation and 20 minutes of actual training, in dedicated therapy area with constant monitoring of occupational therapist, and gradual increase in games complexity. 3. "Armeo" is a robotic machine providing weight-compensation exoskeleton for arm and allowing virtual gaming in three-dimensional workspace and providing assistance to a desired movement. Patient is seated in a wheelchair with the dominant arm and hand attached to the machine arm enabling three-dimensional movements, while trying to execute tasks required by the game, i.e. catching the balloons or evading obstacles. This may improve the functions of the impaired hand and contribute to hand dexterity in daily living tasks.
Sponsors
Special Medical Rehabilitation Hospital
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Primary purpose
Treatment
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
subacute tetraplegic patients undergoing rehabilitation
Exclusion criteria
inability to sit
Outcome results
None listed