End-effector wheeled robotic arm gaming prototype for upper limb coordination control in home-based therapy

Introduction. Robotic therapy has drawn attention in the rehabilitation field including home-based rehabilitation. A previous study has reported that home-based therapy could be more effective for increasing upper limb activity than facility-based therapy. The single-joint hybrid assistive limb (HAL-SJ) is an exoskeleton robot developed according to the interactive biofeedback theory, and several studies have shown its effectiveness for upper limb function in stroke patients. A study of home-based robotic therapy has shown to enhance rehabilitation effectiveness for stroke patient with a paretic upper limb. However, home-based therapy involving a HAL-SJ in stroke patients with paretic upper limbs has not been investigated. The present study aimed to investigate paretic upper limb activity and function with home-based robotic therapy involving a HAL-SJ in stroke patients. Materials and Methods. A home-based robotic therapy program involving a HAL-SJ was performed for 30 min per session followed by standard therapy for 30 min per session, 2 times a week, for 4 weeks (i.e., completion of all 8 sessions involved 8 h of rehabilitation), at home. After the intervention, patients were followed up by telephone and home visits for 8 weeks. The paretic upper limb activity and function were assessed using the Motor Activity Log (MAL; amount of use (AOU)), arm triaxial accelerometry (laterality index (LI)), the Fugl–Meyer assessment (FMA), and the action research arm test (ARAT), at baseline and week 4 and week 12 after the start of training. Results. The study included 10 stroke patients (5 men; mean age, 61.1 ± 7.1 years). The AOU scores and LI significantly improved at week 4 after the start of training (p<0.05). However, no significant changes were observed in the LI at week 12 (p=0.161) and the FMA scores at both week 4 and week 12 (p=0.059 and p=0.083, respectively). The ARAT scores significantly improved at both week 4 and week 12 (p<0.05). Conclusion. Home-based robotic therapy combined with conventional therapy could be a valuable approach for increasing paretic upper limb activity and maintaining paretic upper limb function in the chronic phase of stroke.

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Preliminary Design of a Novel Teleoperation Interface for Home-based Upper Limb Rehabilitation

2020 IEEE International Conference on Mechatronics and Automation (ICMA) ◽

10.1109/icma49215.2020.9233807 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Yi Liu ◽

Shuxiang Guo ◽

Ziyi Yan

Keyword(s):

Upper Limb ◽

Preliminary Design ◽

Upper Limb Rehabilitation ◽

Home Based ◽

Limb Rehabilitation

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A scoping review of design requirements for a home-based upper limb rehabilitation robot for stroke

Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation ◽

10.1080/10749357.2021.1943797 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-15

Author(s):

Lutong Li ◽

Qiang Fu ◽

Sarah Tyson ◽

Nick Preston ◽

Andrew Weightman

Keyword(s):

Upper Limb ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Rehabilitation Robot ◽

Upper Limb Rehabilitation ◽

Home Based ◽

Design Requirements ◽

Limb Rehabilitation

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Design and Development of an Upper Limb Rehabilitative Robot with Dual Functionality

Micromachines ◽

10.3390/mi12080870 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (8) ◽

pp. 870

Author(s):

Md Rasedul Islam ◽

Md Assad-Uz-Zaman ◽

Brahim Brahmi ◽

Yassine Bouteraa ◽

Inga Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Upper Limb ◽

Research Work ◽

Human Robot Interaction ◽

Control Technique ◽

Upper Arm ◽

Interaction Forces ◽

End Effector ◽

Upper Limb Rehabilitation ◽

End Point ◽

Limb Rehabilitation

The design of an upper limb rehabilitation robot for post-stroke patients is considered a benchmark problem regarding improving functionality and ensuring better human–robot interaction (HRI). Existing upper limb robots perform either joint-based exercises (exoskeleton-type functionality) or end-point exercises (end-effector-type functionality). Patients may need both kinds of exercises, depending on the type, level, and degree of impairments. This work focused on designing and developing a seven-degrees-of-freedom (DoFs) upper-limb rehabilitation exoskeleton called ‘u-Rob’ that functions as both exoskeleton and end-effector types device. Furthermore, HRI can be improved by monitoring the interaction forces between the robot and the wearer. Existing upper limb robots lack the ability to monitor interaction forces during passive rehabilitation exercises; measuring upper arm forces is also absent in the existing devices. This research work aimed to develop an innovative sensorized upper arm cuff to measure the wearer’s interaction forces in the upper arm. A PID control technique was implemented for both joint-based and end-point exercises. The experimental results validated both types of functionality of the developed robot.

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Perseverance with technology-facilitated home-based upper limb practice after stroke: a systematic mixed studies review

Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation ◽

10.1186/s12984-021-00819-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Bridee A. Neibling ◽

Sarah M. Jackson ◽

Kathryn S. Hayward ◽

Ruth N. Barker

Keyword(s):

Mixed Methods ◽

Upper Limb ◽

Stroke Survivors ◽

Full Potential ◽

Design Strategies ◽

Home Based ◽

Mixed Studies Review ◽

Assess Quality ◽

Surrogate Measures ◽

Systematic Mixed Studies Review

Abstract Background Technology is being increasingly investigated as an option to allow stroke survivors to exploit their full potential for recovery by facilitating home-based upper limb practice. This review seeks to explore the factors that influence perseverance with technology-facilitated home-based upper limb practice after stroke. Methods A systematic mixed studies review with sequential exploratory synthesis was undertaken. Studies investigating adult stroke survivors with upper limb disability undertaking technology-facilitated home-based upper limb practice administered ≥ 3 times/week over a period of ≥ 4 weeks were included. Qualitative outcomes were stroke survivors’ and family members’ perceptions of their experience utilising technology to facilitate home-based upper limb practice. Quantitative outcomes were adherence and dropouts, as surrogate measures of perseverance. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to assess quality of included studies. Results Forty-two studies were included. Six studies were qualitative and of high quality; 28 studies were quantitative and eight were mixed methods studies, all moderate to low quality. A conceptual framework of perseverance with three stages was formed: (1) getting in the game; (2) sticking with it, and; (3) continuing or moving on. Conditions perceived to influence perseverance, and factors mediating these conditions were identified at each stage. Adherence with prescribed dose ranged from 13 to 140%. Participants were found to be less likely to adhere when prescribed sessions were more frequent (6–7 days/week) or of longer duration (≥ 12 weeks). Conclusion From the mixed methods findings, we propose a framework for perseverance with technology-facilitated home-based upper limb practice. The framework offers opportunities for clinicians and researchers to design strategies targeting factors that influence perseverance with practice, in both the clinical prescription of practice and technology design. To confirm the clinical utility of this framework, further research is required to explore perseverance and the factors influencing perseverance. Registration: PROSPERO CRD42017072799—https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=72799

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