Abstract: Objective To explore the effect of robot-assisted gait training on the lower limb motor function and gait ability in patients with hemiplegia after stroke. Methods From January, 2015 to October 2016, 60 patients with hemiplegia after stroke were randomly divided into control group (n=30) and experimental group (n=30). Both groups received conventional rehabilitation, while the experimental group was given robot-assisted gait training and the control group was given artificial assisted gait training, 30 minutes a day, five days a week for eight weeks. They were evaluated with Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Lower Limb (FMA-LE), muscle strength of hip flexion (L-FORCE/HIP/Flex, FHF) and knee extension (L-FORCE/KNEE/Ext, FKE), Six Minutes Walking Distance and Ten Meters Walking Time before and after training. Results There was no significant difference in general data and all indexes between two groups before training (P>0.05). The scores of all the indexes improved in the experimental group after training (t>2.274, P<0.05), and all of them were better in the experimental group than in the control group (t>2.095, P<0.05), except FKE. Conclusion Robot-assisted gait training can effectively improve the lower limb motor function and gait ability of patients with hemiplegia after stroke.

Key words: stroke, hemiplegia, robot-assisted gait training, motor function, gait