The effects of robotic and conventional gait training in addition to neurodevelopmental treatment on balance, mobility, and health-related quality of life in patients with stroke

Objective:The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of robotic and conventional gait training in addition to neurologic rehabilitation programs based on neuro-developmental therapy (NDT-Bobath) principles on balance, mobility, and quality of life in patients with stroke. Methods: A total of 64 patients with chronic stroke were included in the study. All patients participated in the neurologic rehabilitation program based on NDT-Bobath principles. Thirty-two patients had robotic gait training in addition, whereas the other 32 patients had conventional gait training in addition. After recording the demographic data, the Timed-U p and Go Test, Rivermead Mobility Index, Berg Balance Test, and Nottingham Health Profile were used to assess the balance, mobility, and quality of life. All patients had 30 sessions of NDT-Bobath therapy. In addition to the NDT-Bobath therapy, patients in the robotic gait group participated in total of 15 sessions of robotic gait training, 3 times per week, and the other group had 15 sessions of conventional gait training, 3 times per week. All assessments were repeated after the treatment. Results: There were significant improvements (p<0.05) in balance, mobility, and quality of life between baseline and after treatment in both groups. After comparing the obtained differences in all parameters between baseline and after treatment, no difference was found between the groups (p>0.05). Conclusions: Both conventional and robotic gait training in addition to NDT-Bobath therapy are effective in the rehabilitation of patients with stroke in terms of balance, mobility, and quality of life, and their application in clinical setting is reliable.