Table 1 Summary of results from reviewed articles
From: Overview of the role of robots in upper limb disabilities rehabilitation: a scoping review
Ref | Country | Year | Study type | Study aim | Illness or accident leading to disability | Level of disability | Use of telerehabilitation | Use games and virtual reality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hwang [66] | Republic of Korea | 2012 | Randomized controlled trials (RCT) | Evaluating robot-assisted hand and finger rehabilitation in stroke patients | Stroke | Fingers | √ | |
Carpinella [26] | Italy | 2012 | Pilot study | Comparing two reaching tasks (RT) and objects’ reaching and manipulation (RMT) protocols for upper extremity robot-based rehabilitation in MS patients | Multiple sclerosis (MS) | Upper limb | ||
Hu [56] | USA | 2013 | Experimental study | Investigating the effectiveness of robot-assisted upper limb training in stroke patients | Stroke | Fingers and wrist | √ | |
Squeri [57] | Italy | 2014 | Pilot study | Developing a novel therapeutic protocol aimed at restoring wrist functionality in chronic stroke patients | Stroke | Wrist and forearm | √ | |
Sale [76] | Italy | 2014 | RCT | Evaluating the effects of robot-assisted hand therapy compared to intensive occupational therapy in stroke patients | Stroke | Hand | ||
Sale [27] | Italy | 2014 | Before and after | Determining the short-term and long-term changes in the motor performance of patients with chronic hemiparesis after using a rehabilitation robot | Chronic hemiparesis | Upper limb | ||
Klamroth-Marganska [70] | Switzerland | 2014 | RCT | Evaluation of the effect of a skeleton robot in training the injured arm compared to conventional treatment | Stroke | Arm, elbow and shoulder | √ | |
Hsieh [58] | Taiwan | 2014 | Observational cohort study | Investigating the predictors of minimal clinically important changes on outcome measures after robot-assisted therapy | Stroke | Wrist and forearm | ||
Pennati [28] | Italy | 2015 | RCT | Investigating the effect of combining a short robotic exercise and chemical neurolysis in reducing spasm and improving function in patients with stroke | Stroke | Upper limb | ||
McCabe [29] | USA | 2015 | RCT | Investigating the effect of using robotics on motor learning of the upper limbs of chronic and injured stroke survivors | Stroke | Upper limb | ||
Chen [59] | China | 2015 | Not mentioned | Design and development of a cable wrist robotic rehabilitation device for motor training or assisting people with motor disabilities in the upper limb. | Stroke | Wrist and arm | √ | |
Vanmulken [71] | Netherlands | 2015 | Feasibility study | Investigating the feasibility of tactile robot technology in improving arm and hand performance and skill in people with cervical spinal cord injury | Spinal cord injury (C-SCI) | Arm and hand | ||
Gilliaux [30] | Belgium | 2015 | RCT | Evaluating the effectiveness of robot-assisted therapy in children with cerebral palsy | Cerebral Palsy | Upper limb | √ | |
Taveggia [31] | Italy | 2016 | RCT | Evaluating the effectiveness of robotic-assisted movement and activity in upper limb rehabilitation in hospitalized patients after stroke | Stroke | Upper limb | √ | |
Biggar [77] | United Kingdom | 2016 | Feasibility Study | Design and development of a wearable robotic glove to assist in the rehabilitation of patients at home | Stroke | Hand | ||
Orihuela-Espina [78] | Mexico | 2016 | RCT | Determining the effectiveness of robot-based treatments in the motor improvement of stroke patients | Stroke | Hand | ||
Song [32] | China | 2016 | Not mentioned | Development and design of a robot for upper limb telerehabilitation after a stroke | Stroke | Upper limb | √ | √ |
Vanoglio [79] | Italy | 2017 | RCT | Evaluating the feasibility and effectiveness of hand and arm rehabilitation with the help of a robot in subacute hemiplegic patients | Stroke | Hand | ||
Trujillo [33] | Italy | 2017 | Not mentioned | Assessing the relationship between quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) measures and motor outcome in chronic stroke patients undergoing a robot-assisted rehabilitation program to predict motor recovery | Stroke | Upper limb | ||
Saita [34] | Japan | 2017 | Pilot study | Investigating the effects of robot-assisted rehabilitation and botulinum toxin in the treatment of paretic arm with spasticity in stroke patients | Stroke | Upper limb | ||
Nam [80] | Hong Kong | 2017 | RCT | Investigating the effects of robotic-assisted rehabilitation and training on the upper limbs of people with chronic stroke | Stroke | Hand and elbow | ||
McKenzie [60] | USA | 2017 | Cross sectional | Validation and evaluation of the effect of a rehabilitation robot in improving arm motor function after stroke | Stroke | Wrist and fingers | √ | |
Kim [72] | USA | 2017 | RCT | Comparison of long-term effects of external and internal focus after robot-assisted arm training | Stroke | Arm and shoulder | √ | |
Bishop [67] | Columbia | 2017 | Pilot Study | Investigating the effect of training with a robotic system on paralysis and hand function in hemiparesis patients | Hemiparesis | Fingers | √ | |
Housley [61] | USA | 2017 | Pilot study | Investigating the improvement of upper limb function and quality of life due to the use of a robot skeleton | Stroke | Wrist | √ | √ |
Hsieh [35] | Taiwan | 2017 | RCT | Investigating the therapeutic effects of robotic priming on daily function, movement disorders, and quality of life in stroke patients | Stroke | Upper limb | ||
Gandolfi [36] | Italy | 2018 | RCT | Comparison of the effect of robot-assisted hand training on muscle activity, hand skills, and upper limb dysfunction | MS | Upper limb | √ | |
Lee [74] | Korea | 2018 | Pilot study | Design, development and evaluation of a shoulder joint tracking module for upper limb rehabilitation robots | Stroke | Shoulders | ||
Germanotta [37] | Italy | 2018 | Cross-sectional | Evaluation of validity, capability and reliability of a robotic device for upper limb rehabilitation | Stroke | Upper limb | ||
Kim [38] | Korea | 2018 | Pilot stud | Evaluation of the effects of therapeutic exercise with a robot in improving the upper limb in patients with chronic stroke | Stroke | Upper limb | √ | |
Villafañe [68] | Italy | 2018 | RCT | Evaluation of the effect of robot and occupational therapy in motor improvement of stroke patients | Stroke | Fingers, shoulder, and arm | √ | |
Palermo [62] | Italy | 2018 | Before and after | Evaluation of the effects of robotic rehabilitation on ten subacute stroke survivors | Stroke | Shoulders, elbow, wrist | √ | |
Iwamoto [39] | Japan | 2018 | Not mentioned | Determining the effects of using single-joint hybrid auxiliary limb in upper limb rehabilitation of stroke patients | Stroke | Upper limb | ||
Kim [75] | South Korea | 2019 | RCT | Investigating the therapeutic effects of a shoulder robot on hemiplegic shoulder pain after stroke | Stroke | Shoulder | √ | |
Dehem [40] | Belgium | 2019 | RCT | Evaluating the effectiveness of upper limb robotic-assisted treatment as an alternative to conventional treatment in the rehabilitation of stroke patients | Stroke | Upper limb | √ | |
Hung [41] | Taiwan | 2019 | RCT | Investigating the effects of combined unilateral and bilateral hybrid therapy compared to robot-assisted therapy in patients with chronic stroke | Stroke | Upper Limb | ||
Conroy [42] | USA | 2019 | RCT | Investigating the effectiveness of robot therapy on motor outcomes of patients with moderate to severe arm disability with chronic stroke | Stroke | Upper limb | √ | |
Bonanno [43] | Italy | 2019 | Case series study | Investigating motor-functional improvement in multiple sclerosis patients after robot-assisted rehabilitation | MS | Upper limb | √ | |
Leem [44] | Republic of Korea | 2019 | Retrospective study | Determining the effect of robot therapy on stroke patients according to the demographic and clinical characteristics of these patients | Stroke | Upper limb | √ | |
Kim [45] | South Korea | 2019 | Before and after | Investigating the effect of sensory stimulation and upper limb function of stroke patients after rehabilitation with the help of robots and virtual reality | Stroke | Upper limb | √ | |
Tartamella [46] | Italy | 2020 | Case study | Evaluation of the usefulness of a robotic intensive neural rehabilitation program to improve functional independence in a 57-year-old patient with BRN | Brainstem radionecrosis (BRN) | Upper limb | √ | |
Solaro [47] | Italy | 2020 | RCT | Comparing robot-assisted training based on tactile or sensorimotor training in the rehabilitation of upper limb disabilities in multiple sclerosis patients | MS | Upper limb | √ | |
Picelli [63] | Italy | 2020 | RCT | Evaluation of the effects of robot-assisted arm therapy in patients with distal radius injury | Distal radius fracture | Wrist and forearm | ||
Kuo [69] | Taiwan | 2020 | Case series study | Investigating the effects of robot therapy in improving the upper limb disabilities of patients with cerebral palsy | Cerebral Palsy (CP) | Fingers | - | √ |
Aprile [48] | Italy | 2020 | RCT | Investigation of shoulder pain, motor function, and quality of life in stroke patients after upper limb rehabilitation after robotic or conventional treatment | Stroke | Upper limb | √ | |
Aprile [49] | Italy | 2020 | Before and after | Evaluation of the effect of using three robots and a sensor-based system in the rehabilitation of upper limb disabilities | Stroke | Upper limb | √ | |
Bouteraa [64] | Egypt | 2020 | Case study | Designing and developing a new robotic system for the rehabilitation of the upper extremities | Stroke | Arm, wrist, forearm | √ | |
Kim [50] | US | 2020 | RCT | Investigating the effects of following instructions on upper limb movement status in chronic stroke survivors after using a rehabilitation robot | Stroke | Upper limb | √ | |
Bui [51] | USA | 2021 | Cross-sectional | Investigating the effects of robotic rehabilitation in improving cognitive and movement disorders in adults with HIV and stroke | Stroke | Upper limb | √ | |
Flynn [52] | Australia | 2021 | Not mentioned | Investigating the stability of treatment and rehabilitation of the upper limb with the help of a robot in stroke survivors | Stroke | Upper limb | ||
Terranova [53] | Brazil | 2021 | RCT | Investigating the difference between robot-assisted therapy and restriction-induced movement therapy after using a rehabilitation program by chronic stroke patients. | Stroke | Upper limb | ||
Shi [65] | China. | 2021 | Before and after | Investigating the clinical effectiveness of a soft robotic hand in fingers, wrist and elbow rehabilitation | Stroke | Fingers, wrist and elbow | ||
Chen [73] | China | 2021 | RCT | Investigating the effects of robot-assisted arm training on arm motor performance, one-sided spatial neglect, social participation and daily life activities after stroke | Stroke | Arm | √ | |
Qu [54] | China | 2021 | RCT | Investigating the effect of using robot-assisted training on upper limb function in stroke patients | Stroke | Upper limb | √ | |
Abd [55] | Saudi Arabia | 2022 | RCT | Investigating the effects of rehabilitation exercises provided through games and robots on motor functions and upper limb spasticity in individuals with chronic stroke. | Stroke | Upper limb | √ |