Abstract. The paper is devoted to a survey on the state of the art of elements and parts for the upper limb rehabilitation. As a matter of fact, the use of technological, and specifically of robotic, devices is entering in the habits of clinical approaches, due to their ability to work efficiently and to be able to obtain, at least, the same rehabilitation results of manual therapy. At the same time, the therapists can change his/her role in rehabilitation activity from a physical contribution to an intellectual/motivational one.
Human wrist and hand are easy to be injured. Physical rehabilitation therapy after a wrist or hand operation always takes a long time. A CPM machine is a mechanism based on the rehabilitation theory of continuous passive motion (CPM). It is properly applied during the first two stages of stiffness acts to pump blood and edema fluid away from the joint and periarticular tissues. CPM is thus effective in preventing the development of stiffness, if full motion is applied immediately following surgery. This paper shows the state of the art of modern devices used in CPM rehabilitation and, as a conclusion suggests future developments especially focusing the correct methods and exercises for CPM rehabilitation.
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