Robotics For Rehabilitation Therapy: Functional Versus Individual Joint Training

Each year in the U.S. over 400,000 people survive a stroke and approximately 80% of acute stroke survivors lose arm and hand movement skills. Movement impairments are typically treated with intensive, hands-on physical and occupational therapy for several weeks after the initial brain injury. Unfortunately, due to economic pressure on the U.S. health care system, stroke patients are receiving less therapy and going home sooner. Our goal for this study is to develop an upper extremity robotic training system for both acute and chronic stroke population to improve movement ability with intensive and repetitive movement in the clinic without continuous supervision from a therapist.

Inclusion criteria

• Age between 18 and 73
• Sustained single stroke at least three months previously
• Minimal to moderate lost motor control of the arm after stroke

Exclusion criteria

• Concurrent severe medical problems
• Severe cognitive dysfunction
• Severe neglect or apraxia
• Severe visual deficits
• Significant subluxation of the shoulder
• Presence of severe elbow or wrist contracture
• Any metal implants or surgical clips or mechanical devices
• Metallic hardware on scalp region
• prior diagnosis of seizure and epilepsy
• severe migraine headache
• currently pregnant or lactating
• claustrophobic
• currently taking medication that lower seizure threshold