Portable robots for upper-limb rehabilitation after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Robotics in Medicine
• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Neurorehabilitation

Background:

• Robot-assisted upper-limb rehabilitation is a growing field, with a trend towards end-effector devices.
• Most studies focus on device effectiveness, with limited research on device size and portability.
• This study systematically reviews the impact of portable rehabilitation robots (PRRs) on upper-limb paralysis recovery.

Approach:

• A meta-analysis was performed on 8 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 295 patients, sourced from PubMed and Web of Science.
• Literature search was conducted up to June 2023, including studies using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA).
• Compared outcomes of portable upper-limb rehabilitation robots against conventional non-robotic therapy.

Key Points:

• Portable rehabilitation robots demonstrated effectiveness in improving upper-limb function (FMA: SMD = 0.696, p < 0.05).
• Robot-assisted and conventional rehabilitation showed comparable effects, with PRRs outperforming conventional methods in some cases.
• The smaller size and portability of PRRs are advantageous for clinical settings.

Conclusions:

• Portable upper-limb rehabilitation robots are clinically beneficial and feasible for patient recovery.
• Further research should explore modular designs for enhanced portability, supporting remote and home-based rehabilitation.
• While PRRs show promise, conventional treatments remain essential and irreplaceable in rehabilitation protocols.