Gi-Wook Kim, Yu Hui Won, Jeong-Hwan Seo, Myoung-Hwan Ko
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Chonbuk National University Medical School, KS004 Jeonju city, South Korea
DOI: 10.2340/16501977-2361

Objective: Robot-assisted rehabilitation therapy of the upper extremity after stroke has been studied widely; however, robotic devices remain expensive and bulky. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a newly developed, compact upper extremity training system (Neuro-X®) in patients with chronic stroke.
Design: Pilot study.
Subjects: Fifteen patients with hemiplegia.
Methods: Chronic patients with stroke underwent upper extremity training using a newly developed upper extremity training system (Neuro-X®; Apsun Inc. , Seoul, Korea). Patients were evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Hand Function Test (HFT), Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), and Korean Mini-Mental Status Evaluation (K-MMSE). The assessment started with “pre 1 evaluation” (A1), followed by repeated “pre 2 evaluation” (A2) after 6 weeks without receiving any treatment, in order to generate repeated baseline data. After the A2 evaluation, upper extremity training was performed for 6 weeks. Post-training evaluation (B) was performed after treatment. Obtained data (A1–A2–B) were compared.
Results: During the non-intervention phase (A1 to A2), no significant changes were found in the aforementioned evaluations. However, in the intervention phase (A2 to B), results of the FMA and HFT, and K-MMSE scores, except the MAS score, increased significantly (p < 0. 05).
Conclusion: The Neuro-X® training system improves functioning of the upper extremity and cognition in patients with stroke after 6 weeks of training.

Although robot-assisted rehabilitation therapy of the upper extremity after stroke has been widely studied, robotic devices are still expensive and voluminous. This newly developed compact upper extremity training system (Neuro-X®) was inexpensive, small-sized, easy to move, and has two muscle strength measurements and six treatment modes. We aimed to evaluate the effects of newly developed compact Neuro-X® system in patients with chronic stroke. Neuro-X® training system can improve the function of the upper extremity and cognition in patients with stroke after six weeks of training and be used for functional recovery of the upper extremity in patients with stroke.

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