Upper Limb Robotic Rehabilitation for Patients with Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: A Comprehensive Review

This review focuses on using robots to help people with cervical spinal cord injuries improve the function of their arms. It looks at current research on how well this robotic-assisted arm training (RAT) works for motor and functional recovery. The review analyzed studies from various databases up to September 2021, assessing the quality and level of evidence of each study. A total of 11 studies were included, ranging from systematic reviews to case series. The findings suggest that RAT is feasible and safe, with initial positive effects on arm function and movement quality when combined with traditional therapy. However, differences in treatment programs and robot types make it difficult to generalize the results.

• 1
  Robotic-assisted training is safe, tolerable, and feasible in the rehabilitation of SCI patients, but this has been primarily investigated in patients with other neurological diseases.
• 2
  SCI patients with more residual function could benefit more from robot-assisted therapy.
• 3
  Significant improvements in muscle strength might have potential benefits in terms of short-distance mobility and electrical wheelchair manipulation.