UK Clinical Trial Centers on Robot-Assisted Training for Stroke Patients
From: Rehab Management - 07/02/2014

A 5-year UK-based clinical trial, designed to use robot-assisted training to
assist stroke patients in regaining movement in their affected arms, has been
officially launched in the North East.

RATULS study website (UK)

This research study is a three group multicentre randomised controlled trial
to determine whether robot assisted training improves upper limb function
after stroke. Robot assisted training will be compared to i) an enhanced
upper limb therapy programme consisting of repeated practice of everyday
activities using the arm and ii) usual NHS rehabilitation. Stroke patients
with reduced arm function who wish to take part in the trial will be randomly
assigned to either robot assisted training, enhanced upper limb therapy or
usual NHS rehabilitation.

The effectiveness of robot assisted training will be evaluated by comparing
the upper limb function of patients in each randomisation group at 3 and 6
months. The study will run for 57 months and aims to recruit 720 stroke
patients.

Study homepage:
http://research.ncl.ac.uk/ratuls/

Information about robot assisted training
http://research.ncl.ac.uk/ratuls/forpatients/information%20about%20robot%20assisted%20training/