Bridging the Gap: Overcoming the Barriers to Using Robotics in Rehabilitation

Abstract

Abstract Robotics and digital technologies are increasingly emerging as promising tools in the field of rehabilitation given the benefits they offer to people with limited motor, sensory, and cognitive functions. These innovations are revolutionizing rehabilitation practices by enhancing existing services and offering patients access to advanced, personalized treatments. However, there are some significant barriers to implementing these systems in clinical settings, including resistance to adopting these technologies by practitioners, cost concerns, and ethical and legal constraints. Unfortunately, the rapid introduction of these technologies into rehabilitation settings has not been accompanied by some necessary adjustments in the organizational, educational, and regulatory aspects of healthcare systems. Therefore, to ensure today’s robotic solutions remain sustainable, it is essential to develop new organizational models of treatment. Further, these models must be evaluated for their sustainability and effectiveness through pragmatic clinical trials that actively involve rehabilitation therapists with specific expertise in robotics. Additionally, we must begin to train a cohort of healthcare professionals who can effectively operate and leverage these technologies. In other words, we must begin to create a workforce capable of integrating these solutions into daily clinical practices. Lastly, it is essential that we create robust regulatory frameworks with clear reimbursement policies to ensure equitable access to all patients. The widespread and inclusive adoption of sustainable robotic solutions and treatments must be fostered on a national scale. Only through these measures will it be possible to reshape the healthcare services offered to the community in a way that promotes a true democratization of these advanced technologies. To this end, this chapter critically addresses the barriers slowing the take-up of robotic and digital therapies in rehabilitation and in healthcare more generally.