Effect of robot-assisted gait training on improving cardiopulmonary function in stroke patients: a meta-analysis

Understanding the characteristics related to cardiorespiratory fitness after stroke can provide reference values for patients in clinical rehabilitation exercise. This meta- analysis aimed to investigate the effect of robot-assisted gait training in improving cardiorespiratory fitness in post-stroke patients, compared to conventional rehabilitation training.

PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CBM, CNKI and Wanfang databases were searched until March 18th, 2024. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effectiveness of robot-assisted gait training versus control group were included. The main outcome variable was peak oxygen uptake. 6-minute walking test, peak heart rate, peak inspiratory expiratory ratio as our secondary indicators. RevMan 5.3 software was used for statistical analysis.

A total of 17 articles were included, involving 689 subjects. The results showed a significant effect for robot-assisted gait training to improve VO_2peak (MD = 1.85; 95% CI: -0.13 to 3.57; p = 0.04) and 6WMT (MD = 19.26; 95% CI: 10.43 to 28.08; p < 0.0001). However, no significant difference favouring robot-assisted gait training were found in HR_peak (MD = 3.56; 95% CI: -1.90 to 9.02; p = 0.20) and RER_peak (MD = -0.01; 95% CI: -0.04 to 0.01; p = 0.34).

These results showed that robot-assisted gait training may have a beneficial effect in improving VO_2peak and 6WMT, with a moderate recommendation level according to the GRADE guidelines.