Effectiveness of Platform-Based Robot-Assisted Rehabilitation for Musculoskeletal or Neurologic Injuries: A Systematic Review

Bioengineering, 2022 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering9040129 · Published: March 22, 2022

Assistive Technology Neurorehabilitation Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This systematic review examines the effectiveness of platform-based robotic rehabilitation for individuals with musculoskeletal or neurological injuries. The review found that rehabilitation with platform-based robots produced encouraging results, particularly with the VR-based Rutgers Ankle and the Hunova robots. These robots were effective for patients with neurological conditions like stroke, spinal cord injury, and Parkinson’s disease, as well as various musculoskeletal ankle injuries.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

38 studies included

Evidence Level

Systematic Review

Key Findings

1
Rehabilitation with platform-based robots produced some encouraging results for patients with neurological impairments and musculoskeletal injuries.
2
The VR-based Rutgers Ankle and the Hunova were found to be the most effective robots for the rehabilitation of patients with neurological conditions and various musculoskeletal ankle injuries.
3
The review highlights the potential for platform-based robotic training to be routinely adopted in rehab clinics alongside traditional physical therapy.

Research Summary

This systematic review evaluates the effectiveness of platform-based robotic rehabilitation for individuals with musculoskeletal or neurological injuries, finding encouraging results. The VR-based Rutgers Ankle and the Hunova robots were identified as particularly effective for rehabilitating patients with neurological conditions (stroke, spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s disease) and musculoskeletal ankle injuries. The study suggests that platform-based robotic training should be integrated into rehab clinics alongside traditional physical therapy to enhance treatment and efficiency.

Practical Implications

Enhanced Rehabilitation Planning

Robotic rehabilitation allows for efficient planning of the rehabilitation process in terms of session duration, required tools, and therapist availability.

Cost Reduction

Compared to traditional rehabilitation, robotic-assisted rehabilitation may reduce costs due to shorter hospital stays and greater autonomy at discharge.

Transformation of Rehabilitation Clinics

Robotic technology has the potential to transform rehabilitation clinics from labor-intensive to technology-enabled workflows, providing data to help diagnose patients and adjust therapy.

Study Limitations

1
Most of the studied literature presented findings with a low level of evidence, mainly from case studies.
2
It was difficult to generalize findings because several platform-based robotic rehabilitation devices have been tested on individuals with different musculoskeletal or neurological injuries.
3
The search strategy was limited to literature in English and Italian.

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