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Development of a Novel Task-oriented Rehabilitation Program using a Bimanual Exoskeleton Robotic Hand
Published on: May 20, 2020
Robot-assisted rehabilitation of hand function
Sivakumar Balasubramanian1, Julius Klein, Etienne Burdet
1Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, UK.
Current Opinion in Neurology
|September 21, 2010
Summary
Robot-assisted neurorehabilitation is advancing, with a growing number of devices focusing on hand function. These robotic systems show promising results in improving motor skills and functional use of the hand after injury.
Area of Science:
- Robotics in Medicine
- Neurorehabilitation Engineering
- Assistive Technology
Background:
- Early robot-assisted neurorehabilitation focused on proximal upper extremity movements.
- Recent advancements show a significant increase in robotic devices designed for hand function.
- This highlights a shift towards more targeted, distal rehabilitation strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current state of robotic devices for hand function neurorehabilitation.
- To explore the potential and advancements in this novel therapeutic approach.
- To summarize the emerging evidence for robot-assisted hand rehabilitation.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of robotic devices for hand function.
- Analysis of device complexity, including degrees-of-freedom (DOF).
- Evaluation of clinical study outcomes from reported devices.
Main Results:
- Over the last decade, numerous robotic hand rehabilitation devices have been developed, varying in complexity (up to 18 DOF).
- Clinical studies involving eight of 30 reported devices demonstrate significant improvements.
- Robot-assisted therapy effectively reduces motor impairments in the hand and arm and enhances functional hand use.
Conclusions:
- Preliminary evidence strongly supports the efficacy of robot-assisted hand rehabilitation.
- The findings provide a solid foundation for future, more extensive research.
- Robot-assisted therapy represents a promising avenue for improving outcomes in hand neurorehabilitation.
