[Movement technology in the rehabilitation after stroke: hype or hope?]

Application of movement technology in the rehabilitation of neurological disorders has gained a firm position within a short time span, but the effectiveness of many technological innovations is still poorly supported by evidence. Should this burst of movement technology be considered a hype or is it offering realistic hope? This perspective focuses on motor rehabilitation after unilateral stroke and addresses the value of rehabilitation robots, virtual-reality training, peripheral neurostimulation, and brain stimulation. Current rehabilitation robots offer added value compared to conventional training, but only early after stroke for patients who are not yet able to walk independently. The effects of peripheral neurostimulation or brain stimulation are still hard to prove or relatively small. Virtual-reality training seems to be most promising for regaining motor skills, particularly when adjusted to individual capacities. Overall, functional benefits of movement technology in the rehabilitation of neurological disorders keep the middle between hype and hope.