Robot-Mediated ACtive REhabilitation (ACRE2) for the Hemiplegic Upper Limb After a Stroke: A Pilot Study
By Doornebosch, Arno J.; Cools, Herman J.M.; Slee-Turkenburg, Marry E.C.; van Elk, Michel G.; Schoone-Harmsen, Marian; Technology and Disability, Vol. 19, pp. 199-203Publication Date: 2007
Study evaluating a right-handed ACtive REhabilitation robotic device (ACRE2) that facilitates arm movements for people who have suffered a stroke. The ACRE system consists of a motorized arm support with gravity compensation which can be adjusted in the strength, accuracy and speed in which it assists the arm’s motor function. The position of the device and arm is depicted real-time on a computer screen by a colored ball. Arm movement is represented in 3D on the screen. For the purpose of training, a prerecorded movement can be represented as a target to be followed and the compliance to the movement measured. Ten stroke patients (8 women) aged 53 to 94 years each took part in 8 20-minute ACRE sessions, twice a week, using different repetitive reach-to-grasp exercises. Participants rated their experience with ACRE; observation scores were obtained from a participating therapist. Patients rated training sessions as pleasant, painless, sufficient in length and not overly complex. The therapist concluded that the ACRE was useful, effective and efficient but scored arm support as average. A Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Motor Recovery of the upper-limb outcome showed functional progress in all patients after 8 sessions. Implications for further development of ACRE into a home-based training device are discussed.
Published by: IOS Press (Website:http://www.iospress.nl)
Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe (AAATE) (Web Site: http://www.aaate.net )
