Raji Aisha, Gopaul Urvashy, Babineau Jessica, Popovic Milos R, Marquez-Chin Cesar
KITE Research Institute, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, 550 University Ave., Toronto, M5G 2A2, ON, Canada.
Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College St., Toronto, M5S 3G9, ON, Canada.
Biomed Eng Online. 2025 Apr 30;24(1):50. doi: 10.1186/s12938-025-01362-z.
There is a growing interest in exploring industrial-grade collaborative robots (cobots) for rehabilitation. This review explores their application for motor rehabilitation of the upper and lower extremities after a stroke and spinal cord injury (SCI). The article highlights the inherent safety features of cobots, emphasizing their design advantages over custom-built or traditional rehabilitation robots in terms of potential safety and time efficiency.
Database searches and reference list screening were conducted to identify studies relating to the use of cobots for upper and lower extremity rehabilitation among individuals with stroke and SCI. These articles were then reviewed and summarized.
Thirty-three studies were included in this review. The findings suggest that the use of cobots in motor rehabilitation is still in the early stages. Some of the cobots used were equipped with sensors to detect and respond to the movement of the extremities and minimize the risk of injury. This safety aspect is crucial for patients with motor impairments. Most training protocols implemented with the cobots engaged users in repetitive task-based exercises with an overall positive user experience. Thus far, these devices have been primarily evaluated in individuals with stroke and SCI that affect the lower extremities, with no study addressing upper extremity impairments. This initial focus serves as a preliminary step toward assessing their applicability for individuals with stroke and SCI.
Cobots may have the capacity to transform therapy and support healthcare professionals in delivering more personalized and effective rehabilitation. However, there is limited evidence on their use to support upper and lower extremity rehabilitation among individuals with stroke and SCI. Further research and development are needed to refine these technologies and broaden their applications in rehabilitation settings to enhance functional recovery and overall quality of life for individuals with stroke and SCI.
人们对探索用于康复的工业级协作机器人（cobot）的兴趣与日俱增。本综述探讨了它们在中风和脊髓损伤（SCI）后上肢和下肢运动康复中的应用。文章强调了协作机器人固有的安全特性，在潜在安全性和时间效率方面，突出了其相较于定制或传统康复机器人的设计优势。
进行数据库检索和参考文献列表筛选，以识别与协作机器人在中风和SCI患者上肢和下肢康复中的应用相关的研究。然后对这些文章进行综述和总结。
本综述纳入了33项研究。研究结果表明，协作机器人在运动康复中的应用仍处于早期阶段。一些使用的协作机器人配备了传感器，以检测和响应肢体的运动，并将受伤风险降至最低。这一安全方面对运动功能受损的患者至关重要。大多数使用协作机器人实施的训练方案让用户参与基于任务的重复练习，总体用户体验良好。到目前为止，这些设备主要在影响下肢的中风和SCI患者中进行了评估，尚无研究涉及上肢损伤。这一初步重点是评估其对中风和SCI患者适用性的第一步。
协作机器人可能有能力改变治疗方式，并支持医疗保健专业人员提供更个性化和有效的康复治疗。然而，关于其用于支持中风和SCI患者上肢和下肢康复的证据有限。需要进一步的研究和开发来完善这些技术，并扩大其在康复环境中的应用，以提高中风和SCI患者的功能恢复和整体生活质量。
