One objective of acute stroke rehabilitation is restoration and improvement of arm use. The aim of this study is to determine feasibility and efficiency of additional exercise in acute stroke inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) using the Armeo-Spring® (ARMEO) robot vs. therapist supervised Table Top (TT) exercises.

Blinded, randomized, study using TT or ARMEO in addition to 3hours of 1:1 required therapy. Participants with unilateral hemiparesis≥18 years with a minimum Fugl-Meyer Assessment score of 8/66 or Modified Ashworth Scale score of<3 after acute stroke. Outcome measures Number of treatment sessions; serious/adverse events (S/AEs); Functional Independence Measure (FIM) efficiency; and Modified Borg Rating of therapist Perceived Exertion Scale (RPE).

Thirty-six participants enrolled in the study thus far. ARMEO participants on average had more training days (6.6) than TT (5.9); number of training days was not statistically different (P=.59). FIM efficiency was not significantly different. There was statistically significant median decrease in Borg from last day of training to the first day of training in both ARMEO or TT groups, P<.005. Five ARMEO participants and eight TT participants reported AEs. No SAEs were reported.

Acute stroke patients are able to tolerate and participate in an additional functional exercise program in an IRF without SAEs. Although the training groups did not yet yield statistical significance, FIM efficiency improved and therapist effort decreased. This study supports early recovery in acute stroke rehabilitation and ARMEO was preferred training mode and with good patient satisfaction.