A feasibility study of the use of a cheap, portable, robotic aid for delivering repetitive practice of arm rehabilitation in acute stroke

Following stroke 30 per cent of people have persistent weakness. Increasing the amount of physiotherapy after stroke appears to lead to better recovery. In practice increasing therapy time means increasing the number of therapists, which is expensive. 

‘Robotic’ aids can provide high-intensity, repetitive, task-specific, interactive treatment of weak arms. The aim of this preliminary study is to identify whether using a portable robotic aid that can be used at the bedside will be useful in practice. We will identify what proportion of patients with acute stroke would be able to use the robotic aid, establish how best to deliver a robotic intervention, in practice, and work out how best to measure the impact it has on upper limb function in everyday tasks. This information will allow us to conduct a large study in the future, to provide definitive answers about the role of this robotic aid. 

Scientific Title: A feasibility study of use of a cheap, portable, robotic aid for delivering repetitive practice of reach, supination, and manipulation in acute stroke

Classification:
Rehabilitation, Neurorehabilitation

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