Robotic-Assisted Rehabilitation for Post-Stroke Shoulder Pain: A Systematic Review

Post-stroke shoulder pain (PSSP) is a debilitating consequence of hemiplegia, often hindering rehabilitation efforts and further limiting motor recovery. With the advent of robotic-assisted therapies in neurorehabilitation, there is potential for innovative interventions for PSSP. This study systematically reviewed the current literature to determine the effectiveness of robotic-assisted rehabilitation in addressing PSSP in stroke patients. A comprehensive search of databases was conducted, targeting articles published up to August 2023. Studies were included if they investigated the impact of robotic-assisted rehabilitation on PSSP. The outcome of interest was pain reduction. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane database. Of the 187 initially identified articles, 3 studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing 174 patients. The reviewed studies indicated a potential benefit of robotic-assisted rehabilitation in reducing PSSP, with some studies also noting improvements in the range of motion and overall motor function. However, the results varied across studies, with some showing more significant benefits than others, because these use different protocols and robotic equipment.