Effects of Exoskeleton Robots on Balance and Lower Limb Function of Patients with Stroke: A Meta-Analysis

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of exoskeleton robot training on balance and lower limb function of patients with stroke by meta-analysis.MethodsData were searched and retrieved from the database of China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, Chinese Science and Technology Periodi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: PENG Xiaoke, ZHAO Guoshun, HAN Shiyu, DONG Anqin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Editorial Office of Rehabilitation Medicine 2025-04-01
Series:康复学报
Subjects:
Online Access:http://kfxb.publish.founderss.cn/thesisDetails#10.3724/SP.J.1329.2025.02013
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849424400434069504
author PENG Xiaoke
ZHAO Guoshun
HAN Shiyu
DONG Anqin
author_facet PENG Xiaoke
ZHAO Guoshun
HAN Shiyu
DONG Anqin
author_sort PENG Xiaoke
collection DOAJ
description ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of exoskeleton robot training on balance and lower limb function of patients with stroke by meta-analysis.MethodsData were searched and retrieved from the database of China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database (VIP), PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMbase, and Web of Science. The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of exoskeleton robots training on balance and lower limb function of patients with stroke were included, and the retrieval time was from the database inception to June 2024. The primary outcome indicators included Berg Balance Scale (BBS) score and Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Lower Extremity (FMA-LE) score. Data extraction and literature quality assessment were independently conducted by two researchers, and the meta-analysis was performed using Stata 16.0 software. Continuous variables were expressed by weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI). The heterogeneity was determined according to the <italic>I </italic><sup>2</sup> value. If <italic>I </italic><sup>2</sup>≤50% and <italic>P</italic>≥0.1, indicating low or no heterogeneity among the studies, a fixed-effect model would be used; if <italic>P</italic>&lt;0.1, <italic>I </italic><sup>2</sup>&gt; 50%, indicating high heterogeneity, a random effect model would be used.ResultsA total of 9 RCTs were included, involving 467 patients. The meta-analysis results showed that, compared with the control group, BBS score in the experimental group after treatment was significantly higher [<italic>WMD</italic>=2.24, 95% <italic>CI </italic>(0.57, 3.91), <italic>Z</italic>=2.63, <italic>P</italic>=0.009] and FMA-LE score was significantly higher [<italic>WMD</italic>=2.30, 95% <italic>CI</italic>=(1.39, 3.21), <italic>Z</italic>=4.97, <italic>P</italic>&lt;0.001]. Subgroup meta-analysis of BBS scores showed that, when gait training lasted ≤30 minutes, BBS score in the experimental group after treatment was significantly higher than the control group [<italic>WMD</italic>=2.49, 95% <italic>CI </italic>(0.76, 4.23), <italic>Z</italic>=2.82, <italic>P</italic>=0.005]; when gait training duration was&gt;30 minutes, there was no statistically significant difference in BBS scores between two groups [<italic>WMD</italic>=-1.04, 95% <italic>CI</italic>=(-7.23, 5.15), <italic>Z</italic>=-0.33, <italic>P</italic>=0.743]; when the intervention period was ≤4 weeks, BBS score in the experimental group after treatment was significantly higher than the control group [<italic>WMD</italic>=1.86, 95% <italic>CI</italic>=(0.10, 3.62), <italic>Z</italic>=2.07, <italic>P</italic>=0.038]; when the intervention period was &gt;4 weeks, BBS score in the experimental group after treatment was significantly higher than the control group [<italic>WMD</italic>=5.57, 95% <italic>CI</italic>=(0.31,10.82), <italic>Z</italic>=2.08, <italic>P</italic>=0.038]. Subgroup analysis of FMA-LE scores showed that, when gait training duration was≤30 minutes, FMA-LE score in the experimental group after treatment was significantly higher than the control group [<italic>WMD</italic>=2.29, 95% <italic>CI</italic>=(1.35,2.23), <italic>Z</italic>=4.78, <italic>P</italic>&lt;0.001]; when gait training duration was &gt;30 minutes, there was no statistically significant difference in FMA-LE scores between the two groups [<italic>WMD</italic>=2.45, 95% <italic>CI</italic>=(-1.04, 5.94), <italic>Z</italic>=1.38, <italic>P</italic>=0.169]; when the intervention period was ≤4 weeks, FMA-LE score in the experimental group after treatment was significantly higher than the control group [<italic>WMD</italic>=1.96, 95% <italic>CI</italic>=(0.71, 3.22), <italic>Z</italic>=2.43, <italic>P</italic>=0.002]; when the intervention period was &gt;4 weeks, FMA-LE score in the experimental group after treatment was significantly higher than the control group [<italic>WMD</italic>=2.66, 95% <italic>CI</italic>=(1.35, 3.97), <italic>Z</italic>=2.77, <italic>P</italic>&lt;0.001].ConclusionExoskeleton robot training can effectively improve balance and lower limb motor function of patients with stroke, and the improvement effect of short-term exoskeleton robot training is more obvious.
format Article
id doaj-art-5af8dcd87f4f481ea0d2886dc050d354
institution Kabale University
issn 2096-0328
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Editorial Office of Rehabilitation Medicine
record_format Article
series 康复学报
spelling doaj-art-5af8dcd87f4f481ea0d2886dc050d3542025-08-20T03:30:13ZengEditorial Office of Rehabilitation Medicine康复学报2096-03282025-04-013519720489562791Effects of Exoskeleton Robots on Balance and Lower Limb Function of Patients with Stroke: A Meta-AnalysisPENG XiaokeZHAO GuoshunHAN ShiyuDONG AnqinObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of exoskeleton robot training on balance and lower limb function of patients with stroke by meta-analysis.MethodsData were searched and retrieved from the database of China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database (VIP), PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMbase, and Web of Science. The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of exoskeleton robots training on balance and lower limb function of patients with stroke were included, and the retrieval time was from the database inception to June 2024. The primary outcome indicators included Berg Balance Scale (BBS) score and Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Lower Extremity (FMA-LE) score. Data extraction and literature quality assessment were independently conducted by two researchers, and the meta-analysis was performed using Stata 16.0 software. Continuous variables were expressed by weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI). The heterogeneity was determined according to the <italic>I </italic><sup>2</sup> value. If <italic>I </italic><sup>2</sup>≤50% and <italic>P</italic>≥0.1, indicating low or no heterogeneity among the studies, a fixed-effect model would be used; if <italic>P</italic>&lt;0.1, <italic>I </italic><sup>2</sup>&gt; 50%, indicating high heterogeneity, a random effect model would be used.ResultsA total of 9 RCTs were included, involving 467 patients. The meta-analysis results showed that, compared with the control group, BBS score in the experimental group after treatment was significantly higher [<italic>WMD</italic>=2.24, 95% <italic>CI </italic>(0.57, 3.91), <italic>Z</italic>=2.63, <italic>P</italic>=0.009] and FMA-LE score was significantly higher [<italic>WMD</italic>=2.30, 95% <italic>CI</italic>=(1.39, 3.21), <italic>Z</italic>=4.97, <italic>P</italic>&lt;0.001]. Subgroup meta-analysis of BBS scores showed that, when gait training lasted ≤30 minutes, BBS score in the experimental group after treatment was significantly higher than the control group [<italic>WMD</italic>=2.49, 95% <italic>CI </italic>(0.76, 4.23), <italic>Z</italic>=2.82, <italic>P</italic>=0.005]; when gait training duration was&gt;30 minutes, there was no statistically significant difference in BBS scores between two groups [<italic>WMD</italic>=-1.04, 95% <italic>CI</italic>=(-7.23, 5.15), <italic>Z</italic>=-0.33, <italic>P</italic>=0.743]; when the intervention period was ≤4 weeks, BBS score in the experimental group after treatment was significantly higher than the control group [<italic>WMD</italic>=1.86, 95% <italic>CI</italic>=(0.10, 3.62), <italic>Z</italic>=2.07, <italic>P</italic>=0.038]; when the intervention period was &gt;4 weeks, BBS score in the experimental group after treatment was significantly higher than the control group [<italic>WMD</italic>=5.57, 95% <italic>CI</italic>=(0.31,10.82), <italic>Z</italic>=2.08, <italic>P</italic>=0.038]. Subgroup analysis of FMA-LE scores showed that, when gait training duration was≤30 minutes, FMA-LE score in the experimental group after treatment was significantly higher than the control group [<italic>WMD</italic>=2.29, 95% <italic>CI</italic>=(1.35,2.23), <italic>Z</italic>=4.78, <italic>P</italic>&lt;0.001]; when gait training duration was &gt;30 minutes, there was no statistically significant difference in FMA-LE scores between the two groups [<italic>WMD</italic>=2.45, 95% <italic>CI</italic>=(-1.04, 5.94), <italic>Z</italic>=1.38, <italic>P</italic>=0.169]; when the intervention period was ≤4 weeks, FMA-LE score in the experimental group after treatment was significantly higher than the control group [<italic>WMD</italic>=1.96, 95% <italic>CI</italic>=(0.71, 3.22), <italic>Z</italic>=2.43, <italic>P</italic>=0.002]; when the intervention period was &gt;4 weeks, FMA-LE score in the experimental group after treatment was significantly higher than the control group [<italic>WMD</italic>=2.66, 95% <italic>CI</italic>=(1.35, 3.97), <italic>Z</italic>=2.77, <italic>P</italic>&lt;0.001].ConclusionExoskeleton robot training can effectively improve balance and lower limb motor function of patients with stroke, and the improvement effect of short-term exoskeleton robot training is more obvious.http://kfxb.publish.founderss.cn/thesisDetails#10.3724/SP.J.1329.2025.02013strokeexoskeleton robotsbalance functionlower limb functionMeta-analysis
spellingShingle PENG Xiaoke
ZHAO Guoshun
HAN Shiyu
DONG Anqin
Effects of Exoskeleton Robots on Balance and Lower Limb Function of Patients with Stroke: A Meta-Analysis
康复学报
stroke
exoskeleton robots
balance function
lower limb function
Meta-analysis
title Effects of Exoskeleton Robots on Balance and Lower Limb Function of Patients with Stroke: A Meta-Analysis
title_full Effects of Exoskeleton Robots on Balance and Lower Limb Function of Patients with Stroke: A Meta-Analysis
title_fullStr Effects of Exoskeleton Robots on Balance and Lower Limb Function of Patients with Stroke: A Meta-Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Exoskeleton Robots on Balance and Lower Limb Function of Patients with Stroke: A Meta-Analysis
title_short Effects of Exoskeleton Robots on Balance and Lower Limb Function of Patients with Stroke: A Meta-Analysis
title_sort effects of exoskeleton robots on balance and lower limb function of patients with stroke a meta analysis
topic stroke
exoskeleton robots
balance function
lower limb function
Meta-analysis
url http://kfxb.publish.founderss.cn/thesisDetails#10.3724/SP.J.1329.2025.02013
work_keys_str_mv AT pengxiaoke effectsofexoskeletonrobotsonbalanceandlowerlimbfunctionofpatientswithstrokeametaanalysis
AT zhaoguoshun effectsofexoskeletonrobotsonbalanceandlowerlimbfunctionofpatientswithstrokeametaanalysis
AT hanshiyu effectsofexoskeletonrobotsonbalanceandlowerlimbfunctionofpatientswithstrokeametaanalysis
AT donganqin effectsofexoskeletonrobotsonbalanceandlowerlimbfunctionofpatientswithstrokeametaanalysis