Trial reportStroke2026
Exoskeleton-Assisted Therapy Enhances Upper Limb Motor Recovery in Early Subacute Stroke: A Multicenter, Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.
Trial report in Stroke, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04697368 (A Randomized Controlled Multicenter Study on the Efficacy of Upper Limb Rehabilitation With Exoskeleton in Patients With Subacute Stroke.), which is not on this map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
A Randomized Controlled Multicenter Study on the Efficacy of Upper Limb Rehabilitation With Exoskeleton in Patients With Subacute Stroke.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Comparative effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for post-stroke upper limb motor dysfunction: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Frontiers in aging neuroscience · 2026Pooled it
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
12 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundRobot-assisted therapy (RAT) with exoskeletons is believed to enhance motor recovery in stroke survivors. RAT offers intensive, feedback-based, task-oriented training to improve function. This study evaluated exoskeleton-based RAT integrated into usual rehabilitation care for individuals in early subacute stroke.
methodsThis multicenter randomized controlled trial was conducted across 8 stroke neurorehabilitation units over a 3-year period (December 2020-March 2024). Inpatients with moderate-to-severe upper limb impairment postsubacute stroke (<3 months poststroke) were randomized (1:1) to 25 sessions (5/week for 5 weeks) of exoskeleton-assisted RAT (robotic group) or conventional rehabilitation (control group). Outcome assessors were blinded. The primary outcome was the change in the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Limb (motor section, 0-66) from baseline to treatment end. Secondary outcomes addressed body function, activity (capacity/performance), and participation. Clinical assessments were at baseline (T0), posttreatment (T1), and 6-month telephone follow-up (T2). Odds ratio for achieving a minimal clinically important difference (≥10 points) on the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Limb was calculated.
resultsA total of 109 individuals with subacute stroke were screened. Of these, 94 (35% women; mean age 62.5±13.5 years; mean onset 34±28 days) were eligible and randomized, and 82 completed the intervention (12% dropout). No significant differences were observed at baseline, despite the median Fugl-Meyer score being 16 in the robotic group and 10 in the control group. The robotic group showed significantly greater improvement in Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Limb motor score than the control group, with a median between-group difference of 22 points (
conclusionsExoskeleton-assisted RAT offers significant clinical benefits in early poststroke upper limb recovery, yielding higher minimal clinically important difference rates on impairment outcomes but not on specific functional measures compared with conventional therapy. Further research should evaluate long-term effects and optimize protocols based on patient characteristics. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT04697368.
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