Conclusions
PROM, spasticity, stroke, Lokomat, acute stroke
STROKE, ACUTE STROKE
Providing acute stroke patients with additional walking-focused locomotor training is feasible in an IRF environment without undue strain on patient or staff when effort is placed in scheduling such intervention to supplement mandated therapy time. Participants in both intervention groups showed meaningful improvements in most functional outcomes (FAC, FIM, 5xSTS, 2MWT, 10MWT) – compared to their own intake measures (i.e. at the start of their inpatient stay) and a differential improvement in FIM compared to the post-hoc no supplemental therapy group (standard of care). Neither group declined in PROM and spasticity measures. The Lokomat® group showed improvement with fewer number of training sessions but subjectively assessed increased stepping per session. This supports the overall time efficiency of this gait training robotic tool for patients in early stroke rehabilitation. Several functional measures showed practical but not statistical differences between therapy mode. Determining optimal dose of supplemental therapy (of either mode) and whether the Lokomat® group’s progress plateaued or would continue for additional sessions may help to optimize the focus of therapy during this critical phase of acute stroke rehabilitation and should be studied in the future.