Around 15 million people worldwide suffer a stroke each year. One of the most common complications is functional decline. Up to 80% of patients with stroke experience varying degrees of functional impairment, including arm dysfunction. This impairment typically leads to muscle weakness and difficulties in arm movement, especially in the hands, fingers, elbows, and shoulders, as well as abnormal sensations in the hands. As a result, patients with stroke struggle to perform daily activities.

Professor Pi-O Lee and her research team conducted a comprehensive analysis of 18 clinical trials to evaluate the effectiveness of robotic arm rehabilitation in improving upper-limb function after stroke. These studies were conducted in Germany, Italy, the United States, China, Taiwan, and Serbia, with patients with stroke categorized into acute, subacute, and chronic phases. The robotic devices used in these studies were specifically designed for upper limb training, allowing patients to perform basic, repetitive movements during rehabilitation.

(Group photo of Conceptual illustration of a robotic arm for future hand rehabilitation assistance)

The findings revealed that robotic arm rehabilitation sessions lasting 30 to 60 minutes significantly improved patients' upper-limb mobility. The robotic arms facilitate muscle stretching, help maintain the integrity of joint soft tissues, and prevent muscle shortening and spasms during rehabilitation. We hypothesize that robotic arm training can activate certain areas of the brain, motivating patients to engage more willingly in hand rehabilitation.

However, Our analysis also revealed that the improvements in the shoulder, elbow, and wrist areas were not significant. We speculate that the robotic arms used in the studies could not effectively target the wrist and hand, leading to suboptimal training outcomes. Future research should focus on developing robotic arms that can reach smaller areas of the upper limb for better rehabilitation results.

Overall, the study confirmed that robotic arm rehabilitation is more effective than traditional rehabilitation in improving hand function after a stroke. Currently, the application of robotic arms in stroke rehabilitation is still in the early stages with small sample sizes. Future large-scale trials are needed to validate the actual effectiveness of robotic arm rehabilitation. We suggest that clinicians and biomedical engineers collaborate across disciplines to develop robotic arms capable of training smaller areas of the arm, which could help reduce healthcare costs and assist patients with stroke in regaining optimal arm function.

Group photo of Professor Bih-O Lee(fourth from the left) and her research team

論文出處：Robotic arm use for upper limb rehabilitation after stroke:A systematic review and meta-analysis

全文下載：https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/kjm2.12679