Differences in Treatment Characteristics and Patient and Therapist Satisfaction Between Robot Assisted Therapy and Conventional Occupational Therapy Among Individuals Post Stroke

Method and research procedure: The study will include 30 sub-acute post stroke patients, aged 18-85, with severe motor impairment in the upper limb and with normal-mild cognitive ability, hospitalized at the Loewenstein Rehabilitation Hospital. Each subject will receive two 30-min treatment sessions, one Conventional Occupational Therapy (COT) and one Robot Assisted Therapy (RAT). Before and during each session, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for reporting the level of pain will be administered. The number of repetitions and compensations will be counted by observation. After each session, a subjective satisfaction questionnaire regarding the treatment will be administered.

Inclusion criteria

• 18 to 85 year old following stroke (first-ever stroke).
• Individuals in the sub-acute phase (up to three months)
• Intact cognitive function (score > 21 points on the Mini Mental State Examination)
• Sever weakness of the affected upper limb (score 5-20 points on the FMA)
• Understanding and reading Hebrew
• Normal or corrected eyesight.
• Subjects were at least in one session of RAT and one session of COT

Exclusion criteria

• Neurological, cardio-vascular or orthopedic impairment, unrelated to the stroke, which restrict upper limb function.
• High muscle tone (score > 4 in Modified Ashworth Scale)
• Apraxia (score <68 in De Renzi Apraxia Test)
• Severe Sensory impairment.