Effects of Overground Robot-Assisted Gait Training on Stroke-Related Sarcopenia

A regiszterben nem jelölt feltételek

• \- Inclusion Criteria
• Participants must meet all of the following criteria:
• Diagnosis of stroke within 6 months of onset (subacute phase), corresponding to the active neurological recovery period.
• Classified as having possible sarcopenia according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS 2019) algorithm, defined by:
  • A positive SARC-F screening, and
  • Either reduced handgrip strength (men \<28 kg, women \<18 kg) or reduced physical performance (SPPB score \<9).
• Height between 140 and 190 cm and body weight ≤80 kg, meeting the mechanical fitting requirements of the overground wearable gait robot used in this study.
• Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) score ≥1, indicating the ability to attempt ambulation with at least minimal assistance.
• Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-K) score ≥24, indicating sufficient cognitive ability to understand instructions and participate in training.
• Currently admitted for inpatient rehabilitation at a rehabilitation hospital in Seoul, Republic of Korea.
• Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent after receiving a full explanation of the study procedures, potential risks, and benefits.
  • Exclusion Criteria
  • Participants will be excluded if they meet any of the following criteria:
• Presence of severe cardiovascular disease (e.g., unstable angina, heart failure, recent myocardial infarction) or acute medical infection that contraindicates exercise-based interventions.
• Musculoskeletal conditions that preclude safe participation in robotic gait training or recumbent cycling, including:
  • Lower extremity fractures,
  • Severe joint contractures,
  • History of lower limb joint replacement,
  • Structural deformities of the lower extremities.
• Severe communication, psychological, or psychiatric disorders (e.g., global aphasia) that impair the ability to follow instructions or complete assessments.
• Participation in robot-assisted gait training or similar mechanically assisted rehabilitation interventions within the past 6 months prior to enrollment.