Tetsuya Tsunoda, MD, Satoshi Hirano, MD, DMSc, Eiichi Saitoh, MD, DMSc,
Shigeo Tanabe, RPT, PhD, Ryuzo Yanohara, RPT, Miho Tanahashi, OTR, Ryuki Kondoh, RPT,
Noriaki Muramatsu, RPT, Ikuko Fuse, MD, Hitoshi Kagaya, MD, DMSc
Jpn J Compr Rehabil Sci 7: 87-94, 2016
Objective: The balance exercise assist robot (BEAR)
is a balance training system that utilizes robot technology.
The purpose of this study was to use BEAR on chronic
stroke patients with hemiplegia and to elucidate the
correlation between balance indices and BEAR game
task levels.
Methods: The subjects were 15 chronic stroke patients
with hemiplegia. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS),
Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), and other balance
indices as well as leg muscle strength and paralysis
were assessed before and after the BEAR training
period. The relationship between the achieved game
task levels (tennis, skiing, and rodeo) and balance
indices after training was investigated using Spearmanfs
rank correlation coefficient.
Results: After training, TUG, Functional Reach Test
(FRT) and comfortable walking speed showed a
significant improvement. Furthermore, BBS, FRT, and
comfortable walking speed showed a significant
correlation with the achieved game task levels.
Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that
balance training using BEAR contributes to an
improvement in dynamic postural control ability. The
levels achieved for all BEAR game tasks are thought
to reflect the balance ability of the subjects after
training.
Key words: robot, rehabilitation, hemiplegia, balance training, game task level