Comprehensive Summary

Regaining independence in daily life, particularly by recovering walking functions, is a primary goal for stroke survivors. In this work, Bruni et al. reviewed the effects of electromechanical-assisted devices in post-stroke gait rehabilitation. The authors performed a systematic literature review of randomized controlled trials written in English, focusing on the effects of robotic devices on walking recovery in stroke patients. Only 13 trials met the inclusion criteria for this study, containing information from 673 participants with a mean age of 61.8 years and a mean trial duration of 4.6 weeks. Overall, end-effector devices improved patients’ walking speed, while no significant differences were observed with the exoskeleton robot. However, among subacute stroke patients, both types of devices improved walking speed, although this was only statistically significant for end-effector devices. In contrast, no significant benefit was observed in patients in the chronic post-stroke phase when comparing robotic and conventional treatments. Notably, the best outcomes were seen in subacute stroke patients who underwent combined electromechanical-assisted and conventional physiotherapy. The authors concluded that robotic rehabilitation is a valuable post-stroke treatment option, most effective during the subacute phase. However, poor patient classification, unclear training intensity, and a lack of data on augmented feedback limit the strength of evidence. Given that stroke recovery is a complex and long process, these factors must be considered when designing effective rehabilitation plans.

Outcomes and Implications

The annual stroke incidence is around 180 per 100,000 people, making it a leading cause of adult disability in industrialized countries. A main goal for stroke patients is to regain independence in daily life, particularly through recovering walking capacity. This systematic review demonstrated a positive impact of electromechanical devices-assisted therapy, especially when combined with conventional physical therapy, with the best gait recovery obtained in the subacute phase. Therefore, electromechanical-assisted devices can enhance patient rehabilitation by increasing the duration, intensity, and frequency of therapy sessions while reducing costs and demand on therapists.

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© 2025 AIIM. Created by AIIM IT Team

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© 2025 AIIM. Created by AIIM IT Team

AIIM Research

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© 2025 AIIM. Created by AIIM IT Team