Effects of a brain-computer interface combined with an end-driven lower limb robot on the balance and walking function in stroke patients
Objective:To observe the effects of brain-computer interface(BCI)combined with GEO system® lower limb robot(G-EO)on the balance and walking function in stroke patients.Method:Forty stroke patients were recruited from Wuxi central rehabilitation hospital,randomly divided into a control group and an experimental group,with 20 cases in each group.The patients in the control group un-derwent lower limb active-passive bicycle training and G-EO training on the basis of conventional rehabilitation treatment.The patients in the experimental group underwent BCI training and G-EO training on the basis of conventional rehabilitation treatment.Patients in both groups were assessed using the Fugl-Meyer lower limb motor function scale(FMA-LE),the Berg balance scale(BBS),the tecnobody balance assessment system and the Gait Watch 3D gait analyzer before treatments and after 4 weeks of treatments.Result:Before treatment,there were no significant differences between the control group and the experimental group(P>0.05).After 4 weeks of treatment,the FMA-LE,BBS,elliptical area of pressure center motion,length of the pressure center trajectory,stability limit,cadence,gait cycle,stride,stride speed,step length symmetry ratio and maximum ankle dorsiflexion in both groups were significantly better than before treatment(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the FMA-LE,BBS,elliptical area of pressure center motion,length of the pressure center trajectory,stability limit,cadence,gait cycle,stride,stride speed of the experi-mental group were significantly improved(P<0.05).Conclusion:The 4-weeks BCI combined with G-EO training can effectively improve the lower limb move-ment function,the balance and the walking ability of stroke patients,demonstrating immediate effects.
strokebrain-computer interfacelower limb robotbalance functionwalking function