Document Type : Original Research
Authors
- Fatemeh Mohandesi 1
- Alireza Mirbagheri 1, 2
- Mohammad Mehdi Mirbagheri 1, 3
- Noureddin Nakhostin Ansari 4, 5
- Rouzbeh Kazemi 6
1 Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2 Research Centre for Biomedical Technologies and Robotics (RCBTR), Advanced Medical Technologies and Equipment Institute (AMTEI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Northwestern University, USA
4 Research Center for War-Affected People, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
5 Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
6 PT and Technical Director of Tabassom Stroke Rehabilitation Center, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Background: Patients with experienced stroke have suffered from long-term disability, especially in their distal upper extremities. Physiotherapy programs are considered a proper treatment to overcome the complications caused by stroke. The use of robots in physiotherapy is also considered a newfound procedure as an alternative to conventional methods.
Objective: This study aimed to describe a feasibility test on a physiotherapy robot and evaluate the efficacy of the proposed device.
Material and Methods: In this experimental study, a 4-degrees-of-freedom robot was designed and fabricated for hand physiotherapy, which was tested on 17 and 4 post-strokes in the passive and active modes for the best efficiency. Additionally, the patient’s hand spasticity was measured according to the Modified Ashworth Scale pre- and post-usage of the device.
Results: A total of 12 of 17 individuals could do the exercises and follow the instructions without any problem, and 8 of 12 individuals had a decrease in their spasticity. All 4 patients in active-assisted mode could fulfill the activity.
Conclusion: Physiotherapy based on a robot-assisted is considered a promising method with effective treatments for post-stroke patients, which can be a good alternative to routine methods of physiotherapy. However, more tests are needed to determine the rate of functions’ restoration.
Keywords
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