Upper limb rehabilitation and evaluation of stroke patients using robot-aided techniques

This work presents two robot devices for use in the rehabilitation of upper limb movements and reports the quantitative parameters obtained to characterize the rate of improvement thus allowing a precise monitoring of the patient's recovery. Two groups of chronic post-stroke patients were enrolled in a 3-week rehabilitation program including standard physical therapy plus treatment by means of robot devices respectively for wrist and elbow-shoulder movements. Both groups were evaluated by means of standard clinical assessment scales and a new robot measured evaluation metrics. After treatment, both groups improved their motor deficit and disability. The new evaluation metrics proposed should allow the therapist to implement targeted rehabilitative strategies and, if necessary, prompt adjustment of the treatment.