Bilateral upper limb robot-assisted rehabilitation improves upper limb motor function in stroke patients: a study based on quantitative EEG.

Background: Upper limb dysfunction after stroke seriously affects quality of life. Bilateral training has proven helpful in recovery of upper limb motor function in these patients. However, studies evaluating the effectiveness of bilateral upper limb robot-assisted training on improving motor function and quality of life in stroke patients are lacking.

Effects of Uni- vs. Bilateral Upper Limb Robot-Assisted Rehabilitation on Motor Function, Activities of Daily Living, and Electromyography in Hemiplegic Stroke: A Single-Blinded Three-Arm Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To evaluate if bilateral or unilateral upper limb robot-assisted rehabilitation training using a new three-dimensional end-effector robot that targets shoulder and elbow flexion and abduction is superior to conventional therapy with regard to upper extremity motor function recovery and neuromuscular improvement in stroke patients.

Design: Randomized, controlled, parallel, assessor-blinded, three-arm clinical trial.

Setting: Southeast University Zhongda Hospital Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.