Effects of robotic upper limb treatment after stroke on cognitive patterns: A systematic review.

Background: Robotic therapy (RT) has been internationally recognized for the motor rehabilitation of the upper limb. Although it seems that RT can stimulate and promote neuroplasticity, the effectiveness of robotics in restoring cognitive deficits has been considered only in a few recent studies.

Objective: To verify whether, in the current state of the literature, cognitive measures are used as inclusion or exclusion criteria and/or outcomes measures in robotic upper limb rehabilitation in stroke patients.

Effectiveness of robot-assisted arm therapy in stroke rehabilitation: An overview of systematic reviews.

Background: Robot-assisted arm therapy (RAT) has been used mainly in stroke rehabilitation in the last 20 years with rising expectations and growing evidence summarized in systematic reviews (SRs).

Objective: The aim of this study is to provide an overview of SRs about the effectiveness, within the ICF domains, and safety of RAT in the rehabilitation of adult with stroke compared to other treatments.

Methods: The search strategy was conducted using search strings adapted explicitly for each database.

Modified constraint induced movement therapy in children with obstetric brachial plexus palsy: a systematic review.

Introduction: Obstetric brachial plexus palsy (OBPP) is a flaccid paralysis occurring in the upper limb during birth. The OBPP includes mild lesions with complete spontaneous recovery and severe injuries with no regain of arm function. Among the most promising rehabilitation treatments aimed at improving upper extremity motor activities in individuals with neurological dysfunctions, there is the modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT).

Robot-assisted arm therapy in neurological health conditions: rationale and methodology for the evidence synthesis in the CICERONE Italian Consensus Conference.

Background: Robot-assisted Arm Therapy (RAT) has been increasingly applied in the last years for promoting functional recovery in patients with disabilities related to neurological health conditions. Evidence of a knowledge-to-action gap for applying robot-assisted technologies in the rehabilitation of patients with neurological health conditions and the difficulty to apply and tailor the knowledge to the local contexts solicited the need for a national consensus conference on these interventions.

Aim: The aim of this paper was to explain the methodology used by the working group dedicated to synthesizing evidence on the effectiveness of RAT in neurological health conditions in the context of the CICERONE Italian Consensus Conference.

Systematic review of guidelines to identify recommendations for upper limb robotic rehabilitation after stroke.

Introduction: Upper limb motor impairment is one of the most frequent stroke consequences. Robot therapy may represent a valid option for upper limb stroke rehabilitation, but there are still gaps between research evidence and their use in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to determine the quality, scope, and consistency of guidelines clinical practice recommendations for upper limb robotic rehabilitation in stroke populations.

Combining nerve and tendon transfers in tetraplegia: a proposal of a new surgical strategy based on literature review.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is very common, most frequently resulting from motor vehicle accidents and falling from a height. Often, SCI occurs at the cervical level, resulting in tetraplegia, which consists of loss of effective arm and/or hand function. For these patients, hand function is considered the most desired function, above bowel, bladder and sexual function.

Enhancing robotic gait training via augmented feedback.

Recent work has examined the feasibility of robotic-assisted gait training in pediatric patients, including children with cerebral palsy (CP). Herein we present a case series describing clinical outcomes in four children with CP who underwent gait training using a robotic driven gait orthosis (DGO) (Pediatric Lokomat©). Children had a diagnosis of spastic diplegia due to CP.