Robot–Assisted Neurorehabilitation

Abstract

This chapter addresses the use of robots to facilitate the recovery of neuromotor functions. Early approaches to robot-based therapy were mostly empirical and limited by the available hardware, designed for industrial applications. More recent applications build on the current understanding of the physiology of the reorganization of the nervous system following a lesion. The chapter focuses on rehabilitation of the upper limb, but similar principles are applicable to the lower limb. It addresses the neuromotor recovery of chronic stroke survivors and examines two case studies in more detail. Then, the chapter discusses the available evidence on the efficacy of robot therapy. Finally, it suggests that robots may be potentially useful in the context of other neurological diseases, for example, multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy.