Therapeutic robots for post-stroke rehabilitation

Med. Rev., 2024 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/mr-2023-0054 · Published: February 27, 2024

Assistive Technology Neurology Neurorehabilitation

Simple Explanation

Stroke often leads to motor and cognitive impairments, creating significant challenges for patients. Rehabilitation is essential for recovery, and robotic technology is becoming increasingly popular due to its advantages over traditional therapies. Therapeutic robots can assist with repetitive training, increase training duration and frequency, and reduce the workload of healthcare professionals. They help restore movement capacity and improve abilities through human-robot interactions. These robots are classified based on affected area (upper or lower limb), mode of human-machine integration (exoskeletons or end-effector devices), and level of interaction (traditional or virtual reality).

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Over 1,000 in studies assessing upper limb rehabilitation, various ages excluding adolescents/children <18, acute, sub-acute and chronic stroke phases.

Evidence Level

Review

Key Findings

1
Upper limb rehabilitation robots show significant benefits in upper limb recovery, strength, motor control, and activities of daily living compared to traditional therapeutic approaches.
2
Lower-limb rehabilitation robots can improve the range of motion and mobility of the ankle, but their effectiveness in improving lower-limb spasticity or muscle strength is less clear.
3
Rehabilitation robotics, particularly when combined with virtual reality or complementary therapies, can positively impact cognitive function, including attention, memory, and visuospatial abilities, as well as emotional states.

Research Summary

This review provides a comprehensive overview of the application of therapeutic robots in post-stroke rehabilitation, focusing on motor and cognitive function recovery. Rehabilitation robots are classified into upper-limb and lower-limb robots, exoskeletons and end-effector devices, and traditional and virtual reality systems. Robotic technology shows promise in improving motor and cognitive recovery post-stroke, potentially reducing the burden on clinicians and enhancing patient outcomes.

Practical Implications

Enhanced Rehabilitation Outcomes

Robotic rehabilitation can lead to improved motor and cognitive function recovery in stroke patients, potentially leading to a higher quality of life.

Reduced Clinical Burden

The use of rehabilitation robots can alleviate the workload of healthcare professionals by automating repetitive training tasks.

Personalized Therapy

Robotic systems, especially those incorporating virtual reality, can be customized to provide personalized movement retraining treatments based on individual needs.

Study Limitations

1
The literature on rehabilitation robotics for cognitive function recovery is relatively limited.
2
The eﬀectiveness of upper extremity rehabilitation robots in facilitating functional activities of the upper extremity in stroke patients remains uncertain.
3
Generally, therapeutic robots designed for lower limb rehabilitation have generated mixed evidence regarding their eﬀectiveness in improving active functional movement of the lower limbs.

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