Go to main content

Tech2People Tech2People

Language selector

Quick links

tech2people News

Declaration of consent tech2people News

I agree that my data (title, first name, last name, company, position/occupation, date of birth, e-mail address, billing and delivery address, telephone number, health data such as diagnosis and data on therapy devices used, payment information, IP address, date and time of access to the online offer and transmitted messages as well as user behavior) may be processed so that GmbH can inform me by e-mail about news, including new devices, new blog articles, upcoming events, special offers and services, as well as user behavior.I consent to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of tech2people GmbH informing me by email about news from the company, including new devices, new blog articles, upcoming events, special offers and services, as well as contacting me for customer surveys and as part of customer support.

Furthermore, I agree that the information about news from the company as well as customer surveys and other messages may be optimized and personalized as part of customer care. To this end, usage behavior is analyzed using automated data processing methods and new insights are gained. By creating a personal user profile, we aim to tailor our information and advertising to your interests and optimize our offers for you.

You can revoke your consent at any time free of charge without giving reasons by sending an e-mail to dpo@tech2people.at or via the unsubscribe link in the respective message, whereby the revocation does not affect the legality of the processing until the revocation. For more information, please refer to our Datenschutzbestimmungen.

Roboterunterstützte Therapie für Schlaganfallpatienten: Ein Durchbruch in der Rehabilitation

2024-05-07

Contribution of our leading neurologist Prim. Priv.-Doz. Dr. Peter Lackner.

Prim. Lackner is a specialist in neurology and head of the neurology department at Klinik Floridsdorf. His practice is located in our therapy center in Vienna Seestadt.

In addition to his work at the hospital and as a specialist, Prim. Lackner heads the Karl Landsteiner Institute for Clinical and Acute Neurological Research and is Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of the ÖGNR (Austrian Society for Neurorehabilitation). He also heads the Neurological Emergencies Working Group of the Austrian Society of Neurology (ÖGN).

The search for effective treatment options to restore mobility and independence as quickly as possible after a stroke is of crucial importance. Robot-assisted physiotherapy and occupational therapy, also known as robotic neurotherapy (RNT), has attracted considerable interest in recent years. This innovative method uses state-of-the-art robotic therapy equipment to provide intensive and targeted rehabilitation for stroke patients.

RNT has some significant advantages in terms of the basic mechanisms of neurorehabilitation and neuroplasticity that are well established experimentally and clinically:

High intensity, repetition rate and task specificity as well as multisensory input:

From a neuroscientific point of view but also supported by clinical studies, it is currently assumed that the main trigger for neuroplasticity after brain / spinal cord injury is an early, intensive, high-frequency afferent input of the damaged neuronal structure (multimodal bottom-up access). This can be achieved very specifically with robotic aids.

Cardiorespiratory efficiency:

Since many patients have limited cardiorespiratory fitness, especially in the early phase of the disease, conventional therapy is often not possible or only possible to a limited extent or at a low frequency. Since the repetition rate is one of the key factors for the induction of neuroplasticity, robotic methods enable early multimodal bottom-up input despite limited cardiorespiratory reserves.

Patient participation:

Another limiting factor for sustainable early neurorehabilitation is often patient motivation. Compared to conventional methods, robotic forms of therapy have the advantage here that patient motivation can often be kept higher through performance feedback and the use of playful components (gamification), which leads to increased compliance, especially in the important early phase after neurological damage.

The treatment of patients after a stroke is one of the most promising applications of RNT. Several studies have also shown this. Due to the high intensity, specific movement patterns and multisensory input that RNT provides, stroke patients can achieve improved walking ability and functional independence.

It is particularly noteworthy that robot-assisted gait therapy (RAGT) for stroke patients offers a clear advantage over conventional physiotherapy.

In a recent Cochrane Review, the evidence was systematically summarized and a clear picture emerged for RAGT in stroke. Patients who received RAGT after a stroke had a significantly higher chance of being able to walk independently again than with conventional physiotherapy. In particular, patients who were unable to walk at the start of therapy benefited from RAGT. An early start (within the first 3 months after the stroke) also appears to be a positive predictive factor.

Furthermore, a Cochrane meta-analysis from 2018, which summarized 45 studies with a total of 1619 patients, showed that robot-assisted arm therapy can bring about a highly significant improvement in activities of daily living (ADLs), arm function and muscle strength. Patient adherence was very high for all different therapy devices and side effects were extremely rare.

Overall, the growing evidence shows that robot-assisted therapy is a promising option for the rehabilitation of stroke patients. With further research and development in this area, we could achieve even better results in the future and improve the quality of life of stroke survivors worldwide.