Evaluation of a prototype integrated robotic and virtual mirror therapy system for stroke rehabilitation

Abstract

Stroke affects up to 2% of the population, with an increasing number of patients surviving the event and requiring rehabilitation, placing increasing demand on medical systems. As a result, there is an emergent area of research investigating the use of robotics as a means to aid in stroke patients' rehabilitation. Projects such as the MIT Manus have provided evidence of the efficacy of robotic rehabilitation for stroke patients, but further research is required to provide ongoing improvements to this approach. Concurrent enquiry has shown mirror therapy, originally applied to treat phantom pain syndrome in amputees, to be potentially efficacious in stroke rehabilitation. A prototype robotic rehabilitation system was developed to investigate the integration of these two approaches to stroke rehabilitation as a more eclectic approach. The operation of the prototype was verified, however further development is required to produce a system suitable for patient trials.