Effect of Flow Experience Upper Extremity Robot Rehabilitation Therapy Group in Subacute Stroke Patients

본 연구는 회복기 뇌졸중 환자를 대상으로 "뉴로피드백 Neuro Plasticity System" 장비를 활용한 몰입형 상지 로봇재활치료의 효과를 확인하였다. 32명의 대상자를 몰입형 상지 로봇재활치료군과 전통적 작업 치료군으로 나누어 4주간 치료를 진행하였다. 효과확인을 위해 Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Motor Recovery after Stroke(FMA), Box and Block Test(BBT), Grip Strength Test(GST), Korean Modified Barthel Index(K-MBI)의 상지기능과 일상생활활동 수행능력을 평가하였다. 결과적으로 몰입형 상지 로봇재활치료군의 상지기능과 일상생활활동 수행이 유의하게 향상되었다(p<.05). 이러한 효과는 전통적 작업치료와 비교하여도 유의한 차이가 없었다. 이는 몰입형 상지로봇재활치료가 작업치료 중재 유형의 한 전략으로서 충분히 적용 가능하다는 점을 입증한다. 본 연구는 작업치료의 다양한 접근 방법 중 하나로 몰입형 상지 로봇재활치료의 유용성을 확인하고, 이를 회복기 뇌졸중 환자의 상지기능 및 일상생활활동 수행능력 향상에 활용할 수 있음을 보여준다. 다만 연구 대상자 수가 적고, 치료기간이 상대적으로 짧아 일반화에는 한계가 있다. 향후에는 대상자 수를 늘려 다양한 변수에 대한 분석을 통해 더욱 체계적이고 깊이 있는 연구가 필요할 것이다. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Flow Experience upper-limb robotic rehabilitation using "Neurofeedback Neuro Plasticity System" equipment in subacute stroke patients during the recovery phase. The study was designed as a randomized controlled trial, involving 32 patients diagnosed with hemiplegia due to a subacute stroke. They were treated at a university hospital in Seoul. Participants were divided into two groups: 16 patients underwent Flow Experience upper-limb robotic rehabilitation and 16 received traditional occupational therapy. Both interventions were administered for 4 weeks, 5 times a week, for 30 minutes each session, totaling 20 sessions. The effectiveness of the interventions was measured using the Box and Block Test(BBT), Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Motor Recovery after Stroke(FMA), Korean Modified Barthel Index(K-MBI) and Grip Strength Test(GST). The findings indicated that the group undergoing Flow Experience robotic therapy experienced a notable enhancement in both upper extremity functionality and daily living activities (p < .05). Crucially, there was no substantial discrepancy between the two groups when evaluating the extent of improvement in upper-arm functionality and tasks related to daily life. This research validates that Flow Experience upper-limb robotic rehabilitation is effective in enhancing the upper-limb function and daily living activities of subacute stroke patients during the recovery phase. It confirms that this form of rehabilitation can be incorporated as a strategy within the scope of occupational therapy interventions. However, the study does have its limitations, such as a small sample size and relatively short treatment duration, which hinder its generalizability. Future research should aim to include more participants and examine various variables to conduct a more systematic and in-depth study.