Tools and Techniques Used With Robotic Devices to Quantify Upper-Limb Function in Typically Developing Children: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Robotic devices have been used to quantify function, identify impairment, and rehabilitate motor function extensively in adults, but less-so in younger populations. The ability to perform motor actions improves as children grow. It is important to quantify this rate of change of the neurotypical population before attempting to identify impairment and target rehabilitation techniques. Objectives: For a population of typically developing children, this systematic review identifies and analyzes tools and techniques used with robotic devices to quantify upper-limb motor function. Since most of the papers also used robotic devices to compare function of neurotypical to pathological populations, a secondary objective was introduced to relate clinical outcome measures to identified robotic tools and techniques. Methods: Five databases were searched between February 2019 and August 2020, and 226 articles were found, 19 of which are included in the review. Results: Robotic devices, tasks, outcome measures, and clinical assessments were not consistent among studies from different settings but were consistent within laboratory groups. Fifteen of the 19 articles evaluated both typically developing and pathological populations. Conclusion: To optimize universally comparable outcomes in future work, it is recommended that a standard set of tasks and measures is used to assess upper-limb motor function. Standardized tasks and measures will facilitate effective rehabilitation.

Differentiating Motor Coordination in Children with Cerebral Palsy and Typically Developing Populations Through Exploratory Factor Analysis of Robotic Assessments

“…1. RVGR is a more cognitively demanding version of the task visually guided reaching which has been studied extensively in children with CP [4,5,17]. Both tasks use the same basic performance parameters to measure motor function; however, RVGR also records how long a participant takes to correct if they reach in the wrong direction.…”

“…Robotic assessments offer highly objective and repeatable assessments of motor function and cognition [1]. Different robotic platforms and tasks have been used extensively to measure impairment in function in adults with stroke and have been used to a lesser extent with children with CP [2][3][4]. Many robotic measures correlate well with established clinical measures of motor function, such as the Perdue Pegboard Test, and can differentiate well between typical and atypical performance [2,[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13].…”

“…The motor disorders of CP are often accompanied by deficits in sensation, perception, and cognition [14]. Robotic devices have been used previously to assess different aspects of motor function in participants with CP [2,[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. Most articles comparing participants with CP to those who are typically developing and compare the results of each performance parameter rather than creating normative or generalized models of motor function and cognition [4].…”

“…Robotic devices have been used previously to assess different aspects of motor function in participants with CP [2,[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. Most articles comparing participants with CP to those who are typically developing and compare the results of each performance parameter rather than creating normative or generalized models of motor function and cognition [4]. Robotic tests can include many different parameters, making interpretation of the results difficult relative to clinical tests with fewer parameters [15].…”

Implementing Virtual Care in Neurology - Challenges and Pitfalls

“…Robotic motor assessment tools are being developed as well that not only do an assessment but also quantify objectively over a long period this will enhance assessments even more so than in-person in the future. 39 , 40 …”