ReachMAN to help sub-acute patients training reaching and manipulation

Abstract

This paper presents the control strategy and efficient tasks for training with ReachMAN, a compact, portable 3 degree-of-freedom robot to train reaching, pronosupination and grasping, independently or in combination. A pilot study was performed with three sub-acute patients to evaluate the potential use of ReachMAN as a rehabilitation tool, and determine how it should be used. All subjects improved their motor function, and gains in the range and quality of movements were seen, which are not detectable by typical functional assessment.