Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2023 Nov 29;13(23):3561.
doi: 10.3390/diagnostics13233561.

Robot-Aided Motion Analysis in Neurorehabilitation: Benefits and Challenges

Mirjam Bonanno  1 , Rocco Salvatore Calabrò  1
Affiliations
Review

Robot-Aided Motion Analysis in Neurorehabilitation: Benefits and Challenges

Mirjam Bonanno et al. Diagnostics (Basel). .

Abstract

In the neurorehabilitation field, robot-aided motion analysis (R-AMA) could be helpful for two main reasons: (1) it allows the registration and monitoring of patients' motion parameters in a more accurate way than clinical scales (clinical purpose), and (2) the multitude of data produced using R-AMA can be used to build machine learning algorithms, detecting prognostic and predictive factors for better motor outcomes (research purpose). Despite their potential in clinical settings, robotic assessment tools have not gained widespread clinical acceptance. Some barriers remain to their clinical adoption, such as their reliability and validity compared to the existing standardized scales. In this narrative review, we sought to investigate the usefulness of R-AMA systems in patients affected by neurological disorders. We found that the most used R-AMA tools are the Lokomat (an exoskeleton device used for gait and balance rehabilitation) and the Armeo (both Power and Spring, used for the rehabilitation of upper limb impairment). The motion analysis provided by these robotic devices was used to tailor rehabilitation sessions based on the objective quantification of patients' functional abilities. Spinal cord injury and stroke patients were the most investigated individuals with these common exoskeletons. Research on the use of robotics as an assessment tool should be fostered, taking into account the biomechanical parameters able to predict the accuracy of movements.

Keywords: biomechanics; neurorehabilitation; objective motor assessment; robot-aided motion analysis.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Percentage of selected articles reported in Table 1 dealing with upper limb robotic-aided motion analysis.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Percentage of selected articles reported in Table 2 dealing with lower limb robotic-aided motion analysis.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Graphic illustration showing the theoretical usefulness of robot-aided motion analysis in the field of neurorehabilitation. The figure was created with Biorender.com.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Iandolo R., Marini F., Semprini M., Laffranchi M., Mugnosso M., Cherif A., De Michieli L., Chiappalone M., Zenzeri J. Perspectives and Challenges in Robotic Neurorehabilitation. Appl. Sci. 2019;9:3183. doi: 10.3390/app9153183. - DOI
    1. Meng W., Liu Q., Zhou Z., Ai Q., Sheng B., Xie S. Recent development of mechanisms and control strategies for robot-assisted lower limb rehabilitation. Mechatronics. 2015;31:132–145. doi: 10.1016/j.mechatronics.2015.04.005. - DOI
    1. Rehmat N., Zuo J., Meng W., Liu Q., Xie S.Q., Liang H. Upper limb rehabilitation using robotic exoskeleton systems: A systematic review. Int. J. Intell. Robot. Appl. 2018;2:283–295. doi: 10.1007/s41315-018-0064-8. - DOI
    1. Shishov N., Melzer I., Bar-Haim S. Parameters and Measures in Assessment of Motor Learning in Neurorehabilitation; A Systematic Review of the Literature. Front. Hum. Neurosci. 2017;11:82. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00082. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Roggio F., Ravalli S., Maugeri G., Bianco A., Palma A., Di Rosa M., Musumeci G. Technological advancements in the analysis of human motion and posture management through digital devices. World J. Orthop. 2021;12:467–484. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v12.i7.467. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources