Strength and motor function after arm training with an exoskeleton robot

Abstract

Strength training of the arm after stroke can have a beneficial effect not only on strength but also on activity. We aimed to explore whether arm motor function, achieved with robot-assisted training with the arm therapy robot ARMin, correlated to strength. We measured isometric strength in arm movements involving six joints with the therapy robot ARMin. In addition, we assessed grip strength with a hand held dynamometer. Furthermore, we compared the strength gains under therapy between robot-assisted training and conventional, occupational or physical therapy. We could show that patients with ARMin therapy gain less strength than patients in the control group although they improve in motor function. Furthermore, conventional therapy shows higher association between motor function and strength.