EFFECT OF ROBOTIC TILT TABLE VERSUS CONVENTIONAL EXERCISES ON REHABILITATION OUTCOME IN STROKE PATIENTS: A FOLLOW UP STUDY.

Background: Stroke is the main cause of long term disability among adults, living survivors with deficits, and one third remain dependant in activities of daily living thus necessitates early mobilization. Purpose: To determine the efficacy of exercises by Robotic tilt table versus the conventional physiotherapy treatment program in rehabilitation of patients with hemiplegia following stroke. Methods: A total of 80 hemiplegic patients (age 50.36 ?8.36 years, 8.43?4.76 days after stroke) were assigned randomly into two groups for 30 days of Conventional physiotherapy or Robotic tilt-table rehabilitation. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Mini Mental Scale Examination (MMSE), Modified Ashworth Scale, Quality of Life (QOL) and muscle strength of affected upper and lower limb) outcomes were assessed before (day 0), after (day 30) of the rehabilitative protocols and on 90th day of follow up. Results: The Robotic tilt table group improved with time in 0-90 days in QOL=26.6, NIHSS= 9.38, Ashworth= 0.18, MMSE =8.10, muscle strength upper limb =2.08 and lower limb =2.40.Whereas conventional physiotherapy group improved with time within 0-90 days QOL=14.18, NIHSS= 8.30, Ashworth= 0.45, MMSE =8.25, muscle strength upper limb =2.10 and lower limb =2.07. Conclusion: Robotic tilt table group has shown higher improvement than conventional physiotherapy group.