Clinical Significance of Robot Manipulators for Grasp, Balance, and Gait Recovery (from the Medical Point of View)

Abstract

Robots and virtual reality are now introduced in clinical neurorehabilitation practice. The inclusion of robots in the complex rehabilitation program supports functional recovery, ameliorates the quality of care, and increases the quality of life of patients. Grasp, balance, and gait are important activities, necessary for autonomy in everyday life. Therefore, grasp and gait recovery are important indices of the efficacy of neurorehabilitation. The application of robotic rehabilitation accelerates the process of grasp and gait training, improves the balance and gait stability, and ameliorates the independence of patients in everyday life. We have clinical experience with patients suffering from different neurological and neurosurgical conditions: hemiparesis after cerebral vascular accident, multiple sclerosis, and Guillain-Barre syndrome and after neurosurgical intervention for brain or spinal cord aneurysm, tumor, or trauma. Here, we present some of our own results in patients with post-stroke hemiparesis and with inferior paraparesis after spinal cord injury. We consider that the introduction of robots in the process of grasp, balance, and gait recovery of patients with neurological conditions and after neurosurgical interventions can be very useful for neurorehabilitation clinical practice.