Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and long-term physical damage all over the world! Every year, it affects around fifteen million people globally, five million of whom die and another five million become seriously impaired. The good news is, with the progress of modern technology, neuro rehab has advanced at a breakneck speed, and people impaired by a stroke can now receive treatment that can seriously change their condition! 

The use of robotics in neuro rehab is a cutting-edge treatment that makes use of robotic technology to facilitate intense, highly repetitive, adaptive, and measurable physical training. Robotic applications have been used more and more to restore loss of motor function, which is primarily the case for stroke survivors who have upper limb paresis. However, it also occurs in cases of cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, and other diseases, so those patients too can benefit from it.

Effective rehabilitation programs, thanks to the employment of robotic instruments are changing the lives of millions! So, let us take an in-depth look at what exactly is robotic therapy for stroke and how it works.  

What is Robotic Therapy?

The term robotic therapy simply describes the application of a robotic device in therapeutic settings. In essence, a robot is a machine that can carry out intricate activities and actions, often with a high degree of speed and accuracy, and many healthcare professionals now utilize robots on a regular basis in their professional domains. Robotic technologies include, for instance, robot-assisted surgical equipment such as minimally invasive and remote surgery platforms, physical therapy assisting robots, and more, as these robots range in intelligence and complexity.

Robots for rehabilitation are, however, a distinct type, and these intelligent machines known as rehabilitation robots employ sensors to track a person's location and movement and then use this information to communicate with their surroundings. In addition to being useful as clinical therapies, these active-assistive robotic technologies can also aid in evaluations, and many of them can measure and store patient function parameters, which can help with long-term clinical evaluation. As a result, they can help therapists with goal-setting and treatment planning since they can identify and quantify minute changes in physical condition and patient’s motions.    

How Robotic Rehabilitation for Stroke Patients Emerged? 

AI now helps in stroke rehab because over the past ten years, there have been tremendous breakthroughs in stroke therapy, one of which has been the use of robotic technology, and now robotic treatment has become a potent tool. This happens particularly in upper limb motor function recovery, but recent studies are demonstrating encouraging outcomes in improving arm and hand rehabilitation as well. Furthermore, in line with the ideas of neuroplasticity, robotic treatment enables a focused effort to improve the damaged limb, and the efficiency and caliber of stroke therapy are improved by this technology-based approach.  

The kind of robotic device utilized and the particular motor function being worked on determine how effective robotic therapy is for stroke rehabilitation and recovery, so let’s take a look at the various types: Upper Limb Motor Function Improvement

Depending on the kind of robotic equipment used, it has different effects on the recovery of upper limb motor function following a stroke. However, when used in conjunction with traditional treatment, end-effector devices have demonstrated superb efficacy in improving motor function in the upper limbs in many cases.  

• Hand Motor Function Improvement

Using end-effector devices as stroke rehabilitation technology has been shown to enhance hand motor function after a stroke. According to studies, people with chronic stroke may gain from robot-assisted hand recovery therapy more than from traditional therapy in terms of hand motor function.  

• Gait Function Improvement

End-effector and exoskeleton robotic systems have shown promising results in the rehabilitation of gait function after a stroke, and research indicates that the combination of robotic treatment with traditional physiotherapy improves gait function more.  

Robotic Devices for Stroke Patient Rehabilitation

Numerous robotic devices for stroke patient rehabilitation are now on the market, and numerous more are under development. Below are several examples of robotic systems for rehabilitation: 

• End-Effector Robotic Devices

Mechanical forces are applied to the distal segments of limbs via end-effector devices but they have little control over the limb's proximal joints, which may result in odd movement patterns. Although end-effector devices, such as Lokomat and Erigo, typically strap the patient's feet and ankles onto foot plates that replicate the gait trajectory, they also offer some body weight support through the use of a harness which is highly beneficial. 

• Body weight-supported treadmill (BWST) or Driven Gait Orthoses (DGOs)

Robotic orthoses regulate hip, knee, and/or ankle movement patterns during walking, whereas BWST exoskeletons, such as Andago, use a harness that supports a customised percentage of a patient's body weight, and both of these may be needed for manual help during the early phases of therapy.

• Exoskeleton Robotic Devices

The axes of exoskeleton robotic devices line up with the wearer's anatomical axes, and by directly controlling individual joints, these robots reduce atypical posture, gait, or movement during robotic-assisted therapy. However, compared to end-effector devices, their construction is more complex and somewhat costly! Although patients may walk without an overhead support system thanks to overground exoskeleton systems such as ArmeoSpring, using an assistive device like forearm crutches in conjunction with the device usually requires some upper extremity strength, which not all patients have.

Use of Robotic Devices in Stroke Rehabilitation

With the powerful robotics tools, patients are seeing significant improvements, thanks to the precise, intense, and regular treatment provided by these devices. 

Repetitive Task Training
Robots are excellent at doing high-intensity, repetitive task training, which is crucial for stroke recovery, and this improves the efficiency of muscle and brain retention.

Robotic exoskeletons
Wearable robots called robotic exoskeletons assist patients in accurately performing repeated motions, which is essential for relearning motor skills, and these tools may be modified to offer just the proper amount of support.

Better health benefits
Research has indicated that stroke patients' upper limb function can be markedly enhanced by robotic-assisted rehabilitation, and individuals who receive robotic therapy see more gains in arm function than those who receive traditional therapy.

Improved control and precision
Robotic tools evaluate performance with remarkable precision and focus on certain muscle groups and motions, which enable therapists to keep a close eye on the patients' development and modify treatment as necessary.  

The Future of Robotic Therapy in Brain and Spine (Stroke) Rehabilitation

Even though robotic stroke rehabilitation programs have shown encouraging outcomes not only in stroke rehabilitation but also in traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, spinal pathologies, stroke, quadriplegia, and paraplegia, there are still a number of issues that need to be resolved. One of the biggest obstacles to the widespread usage of robotic devices at the moment is their cost, which must be lowered to offer this beneficial therapy to all people who need it. The good news is that continuous advancements in robotic technology will eventually lower the cost and increase the effectiveness of such devices even more.

Conclusion

After a stroke, many patients become physically impaired, and regular, targeted treatment is necessary for them to recover. Robotic therapy in neuro rehab offers task specificity, objective feedback, enhanced user involvement, and motivation that greatly help patients in the recovery stage from stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, and other similar issues way more than traditional rehabilitation techniques. To receive this therapy, consulting with your physician is your best option since your doctor will know where to refer you so that you receive the best robotic therapy after a stroke. 

You can contact Kinametic and Robotic Rehab right now to set up an appointment with a specialist and begin your robotic therapy journey!