The main aim is to determine, whether the RAGT by using the Lokomat exoskeleton device (Hoccoma, Switzerland) plus the protocol-defined conventional rehabilitation versus conventional rehabilitation with the ability to use the leg/lower body exercisers device, improves the gait of post-stroke patients after 6 months. Both groups are treated with the protocol-defined rehabilitation (ergotherapy and physiotherapy) for 60 min 5 times a week, a total of 15 times within 3 weeks (a total of 1200 min). The Lokowalkers group undergoes the RAGT using the Lokomat Pro Freed device for 20-50 minutes 5 times a week for a total of 15 times for 3 weeks (a total of 1800 minutes). The primary endpoint is the Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) after 6 months. Secondary endpoints include Functional Independence Measure (FIM) after 15th therapy and after 6 months, FAC (after 15th therapy and after 3 months), 3. 10-meter walk test (10MWT) (after 15th therapy, after 3 and 6 months), 4. Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) (after 15th therapy, after 3 and 6 months, 3- and 6- months modified Rankin Scale (mRS), Berg Balance Scale (BBS, after 15th therapy, after 3 and 6 months), and 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36, after 3 and 6 months). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sub-study will objectify the natural development of ischemic brain lesions and the evolution of post-stroke brain atrophy within the 12-months of neuroimaging follow-up.
Robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) represents a modern concept of neurorehabilitation in stroke patients. This single-center randomized parallel-group neurorehabilitation trial with blinded primary outcome assessment is aimed at patients after the first-ever ischaemic stroke in the anterior or posterior cerebral circulation.