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Review
. 2024 Feb 27:11:1335147.
doi: 10.3389/frobt.2024.1335147. eCollection 2024.

Robotic systems for upper-limb rehabilitation in multiple sclerosis: a SWOT analysis and the synergies with virtual and augmented environments

Giulia A Albanese  1 , Anna Bucchieri  2   3 , Jessica Podda  4 , Andrea Tacchino  4 , Stefano Buccelli  2 , Elena De Momi  3 , Matteo Laffranchi  2 , Kailynn Mannella  5 , Michael W R Holmes  5 , Jacopo Zenzeri  1 , Lorenzo De Michieli  2 , Giampaolo Brichetto  4   6 , Giacinto Barresi  2
Affiliations
Review

Robotic systems for upper-limb rehabilitation in multiple sclerosis: a SWOT analysis and the synergies with virtual and augmented environments

Giulia A Albanese et al. Front Robot AI. .

Abstract

The robotics discipline is exploring precise and versatile solutions for upper-limb rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). People with MS can greatly benefit from robotic systems to help combat the complexities of this disease, which can impair the ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs). In order to present the potential and the limitations of smart mechatronic devices in the mentioned clinical domain, this review is structured to propose a concise SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) Analysis of robotic rehabilitation in MS. Through the SWOT Analysis, a method mostly adopted in business management, this paper addresses both internal and external factors that can promote or hinder the adoption of upper-limb rehabilitation robots in MS. Subsequently, it discusses how the synergy with another category of interaction technologies - the systems underlying virtual and augmented environments - may empower Strengths, overcome Weaknesses, expand Opportunities, and handle Threats in rehabilitation robotics for MS. The impactful adaptability of these digital settings (extensively used in rehabilitation for MS, even to approach ADL-like tasks in safe simulated contexts) is the main reason for presenting this approach to face the critical issues of the aforementioned SWOT Analysis. This methodological proposal aims at paving the way for devising further synergistic strategies based on the integration of medical robotic devices with other promising technologies to help upper-limb functional recovery in MS.

Keywords: SWOT; augmented reality; digital health; multiple sclerosis; rehabilitation; robotics; virtual reality.

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Conflict of interest statement

GA and JZ were employed by ReWing s r l. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Summary of SWOT analysis for robotic rehabilitation in PwMS.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
This figure summarizes a unified SWOT analysis for robotics and VR, along with their interrelated elements. Dashed boxes contain strengths or opportunities of VR that can help overcome the weaknesses and threats of robotic devices, and vice versa as discussed in Section 4. The direction of the arrows indicates which potential improvement (stemming from strengths or opportunities) of VR or robotic devices could address a target issue (weakness or threat) of the other technology.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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