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Robot‐Assisted Training Early After Cardiac Surgery
Author(s) -
Schoenrath Felix,
Markendorf Susanne,
Brauchlin Andreas E.,
Seifert Burkhardt,
Wilhelm Markus J.,
Czerny Martin,
Riener Robert,
Falk Volkmar,
Schmied Christian M.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of cardiac surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.428
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1540-8191
pISSN - 0886-0440
DOI - 10.1111/jocs.12576
Subject(s) - medicine , interquartile range , gait training , gait , adverse effect , surgery , physical therapy , rehabilitation
A bstract Background To assess feasibility and safety of a robot‐assisted gait therapy with the Lokomat® system in patients early after open heart surgery. Methods Within days after open heart surgery 10 patients were subjected to postoperative Lokomat® training (Intervention group, IG) whereas 20 patients served as controls undergoing standard postoperative physiotherapy (Control group, CG). All patients underwent six‐minute walk test and evaluation of the muscular strength of the lower limbs by measuring quadriceps peak force. The primary safety end‐point was freedom from any device‐related wound healing disturbance. Patients underwent clinical follow‐up after one month. Results Both training methods resulted in an improvement of walking distance (IG [median, interquartile range, p‐value]: +119 m, 70–201 m, p = 0.005; CG: 105 m, 57–152.5m, p < 0.001) and quadriceps peak force (IG left: +5 N, 3.8 7 N, p = 0.005; IG right: +3.5 N, 1.5–8.8 N, p = 0.011; CG left: +5.5 N, 4–9 N, p < 0.001; CG right: +6 N, 4.3–9.8 N, p < 0.001) in all participants. Results with robot‐assisted training were comparable to early postoperative standard in hospital training (median changes in walking distance in percent, p = 0.81; median changes in quadriceps peak force in percent, left: p = 0.97, right p = 0.61). No deep sternal wound infection or any adverse event occurred in the robot‐assisted training group. Conclusions Robot‐assisted gait therapy with the Lokomat® system is feasible and safe in patients early after median sternotomy. Results with robot‐assisted training were comparable to standard in hospital training. An adapted and combined aerobic and resistance training intervention with augmented feedback may result in benefits in walking distance and lower limb muscle strength ( ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT 02146196). doi: 10.1111/jocs.12576 (J Card Surg 2015;30:574–580)