Please select the arm or intervention descriptions that belong to the clinical trial below.
Title: Does Ekso Improve Motor Function and Neuroplasticity in Pazients Affected by Chronic Stroke? A Rondomized Pilot Study
Brief Summary: The use of neurorobotic devices into gait rehabilitative programs, including Ekso, is reported to increase the engagement and motivation of the patients while actively performing a task, and to shape the sensory-motor plasticity (SMP) and its balance between the primary motor areas (M1), and the fronto-parietal network (FPN) connectivity, thus contributing to successful gait rehabilitation. Aim of our study was to assess whether Ekso would foster the recovery of deteriorated FPN connectivity and SMP patterns involved in limb coordination during walking in a sample of patients with hemiparesis due to stroke.

Twenty outpatients were consecutively included in this study according to the following inclusion criteria: (i) age ≥55 years; (ii) a first-ever ischemic supra-tentorial stroke (confirmed by MRI scan) at least 6 months before their enrollment; (iii) an unilateral hemiparesis, with a Muscle Research Council -MCR- score ≤3; (iv) ability to follow verbal instructions, with a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) \>24; (v) a Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) score ≤2; (vi) no severe bone or joint disease; and (vii) no history of concomitant neurodegenerative diseases or brain surgery.

Patients were randomly assigned to the experimental (Ekso gait training -EGT) of control group (conventional overground gait training -OGT- at a velocity matched to the Ekso gait training).


Options:
A: Arm Label: Robot-Assisted Stair Climbing Training; Type: EXPERIMENTAL; Interventions: Device: G-EO System | Arm Label: Conventional Physiotherapy; Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR; Interventions: Other: Conventional Physiotherapy | Intervention Type: DEVICE; Name: G-EO System; Assigned to Arm(s): Robot-Assisted Stair Climbing Training | Intervention Type: OTHER; Name: Conventional Physiotherapy; Assigned to Arm(s): Conventional Physiotherapy
B: Arm Label: Stride Management Assist (SMA) System; Type: EXPERIMENTAL; Interventions: Device: The Stride Management Assist (SMA) System | Arm Label: Impairment based therapy; Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR; Interventions: Other: Impairment based therapy | Intervention Type: DEVICE; Name: The Stride Management Assist (SMA) System; Assigned to Arm(s): Stride Management Assist (SMA) System | Intervention Type: OTHER; Name: Impairment based therapy; Assigned to Arm(s): Impairment based therapy
C: Arm Label: Ekso training; Type: EXPERIMENTAL; Interventions: Device: EKso training | Arm Label: Overground training; Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR; Interventions: Device: EKso training | Intervention Type: DEVICE; Name: EKso training; Assigned to Arm(s): Ekso training, Overground training
D: Arm Label: Ankle Robot with Power Assistance; Type: EXPERIMENTAL; Interventions: Device: Ankle Robot with Power Assistance | Arm Label: Sham group; Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR; Interventions: Device: Sham | Intervention Type: DEVICE; Name: Ankle Robot with Power Assistance; Assigned to Arm(s): Ankle Robot with Power Assistance | Intervention Type: DEVICE; Name: Sham; Assigned to Arm(s): Sham group

Answer: C