Cardiopulmonary Response to Robot-Assisted Tilt Table With Regard to Its Components

This study investigates how robot-assisted exercises and tilt table exercises impact cardiopulmonary function in healthy young adults. The study involved participants performing various combinations of robot-assisted mode, tilt table angle, and functional electrical stimulation (FES). The study measured and compared cardiopulmonary effects like oxygen uptake, heart rate, and minute ventilation under each condition to understand the influence of each element of the robot-assisted tilt table (RATT). The research found that the angle of the tilt table significantly affects cardiopulmonary function, with higher angles generally leading to increased oxygen uptake and heart rate. Additionally, the use of robot-assisted mode, even in a passive form, can enhance cardiopulmonary response. These findings suggest that RATT can be an effective method for improving cardiopulmonary function, especially when considering the angle of tilt and the use of robotic assistance. These results imply that even passive movements using the RATT can result in a higher cardiopulmonary response and that the tilting angle significantly influences this response due to gravity and the sympathetic nervous system. The study suggests that RATT, with its adjustable elements, offers a tailored approach to rehabilitation that can be optimized to promote cardiopulmonary function effectively.

• 1
  The angle of the tilt table had a significant effect on cardiopulmonary function, with higher angles resulting in increased values for RPP, HR, and %HRmax when FES was switched off.
• 2
  When FES was off, the robot-assisted mode had a marked main effect on VO2, VE, and METs, suggesting that even passive movements contribute to a higher cardiopulmonary response.
• 3
  With the robot-assisted mode on, the angle of the tilt table had main effects on all outcome variables, indicating that a higher angle generally leads to better cardiopulmonary responses regardless of FES.