Category: Other
Objective: The aim and objective of this study was to evaluate whether robotic assisted arm training might improve upper limb function in patients with Parkinson’s disease.The aim and objective of this study was to evaluate whether robotic assisted arm training might improve upper limb function in patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Background: Parkinson’s disease is an idiopathic neuro-degenerative disorder. Typical features of Parkinson’s disease are bradykinesia, rigidity and resting tremors. Robotic arm training effectively improve upper limb function in patients with stroke. Till date no previous study investigated the effect of robotic training on arm impairment due to Parkinson’s disease in rural area.
Method: A total of twenty four patients of idiopathic Parkinson’s disease in Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) stage 2-3 were assigned to 45 minute treatment sessions 3 days a week, for three consecutive months of robotic assisted arm training. Participants were evaluated before (T0) and after three months (T1) of intervention. Outcome measures were Nine Hole PEG test, the FUGL-MEYER assessment (Upper Limb Section) and the Quality of Life by Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS).
Results: Twenty-four patients (18 males and 6 females) completed the study with mean age 61.71 ± 4.66 years and body mass index (BMI) 24.33 ± 1.86. The mean severity of illness in Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) stage 2.44 ± 0.40 and duration of illness was 4.42 ± 1.53 years. A statistically significant improvement was found in the Nine Hole PEG Test (CI 0.69 to 1.56; p = 0.001), Upper Limb Section of FUGL-MEYER assessment (CI -2.90 to -1.52; p = 0.001) and Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (CI 0.69 to 1.56; p = 0.001). No significant adverse effects were seen in any patient.
Conclusion: This pilot study suggests that robotic assisted arm training may improve upper limb function and quality of life in patients with Parkinson’s disease.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
R. Yadav, S. Shukla. Robotic Assisted Arm Training in Parkinson’s disease rehabilitation: A pilot study [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2020; 35 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/robotic-assisted-arm-training-in-parkinsons-disease-rehabilitation-a-pilot-study/. Accessed June 15, 2025.« Back to MDS Virtual Congress 2020
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/robotic-assisted-arm-training-in-parkinsons-disease-rehabilitation-a-pilot-study/