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Effects of a protocol using a robotic device in the rehabilitation of wrist function in adults with stroke sequelae: pilot study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2025

João V. L. Menezes ,
Jonathan Tran ,
Gabriella F. Garcia ,
Marcos S. Kishi  and
Rogério S. Gonçalves Open the ORCID record for Rogério S. Gonçalves [Opens in a new window]
João V. L. Menezes
Affiliation:
Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Brazil
Jonathan Tran
Affiliation:
Institut National Des Sciences Appliquées Hauts-de-France (INSA), Aulnoy-lez-Valenciennes, France
Gabriella F. Garcia
Affiliation:
Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Brazil
Marcos S. Kishi
Affiliation:
Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Brazil
Rogério S. Gonçalves*
Affiliation:
Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Brazil
*
Corresponding author: Rogério S. Gonçalves; Email: rsgoncalves@ufu.br
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Abstract

Stroke is a prevalent neurological event that often induces significant motor impairments in the upper extremities, such as hemiplegia, which impacts bimanual coordination and fine motor skills. Robotic-assisted therapy has gained prominence as a contemporary rehabilitation modality, providing augmented motor repetitions and proprioceptive feedback, thereby potentiating neuroplasticity and functional recovery. This pilot study aimed to examine the therapeutic efficacy of a robotic intervention for wrist rehabilitation in two post-stroke adults aged 50–70 years. The intervention protocol, implemented biweekly over four weeks, encompassed 45-minute sessions consisting of passive muscle elongation (5 min) and robotic-facilitated exercises targeting pronation-supination (10 min), flexion-extension (10 min), and radial-ulnar deviation (10 min). Outcome measures included pre- and post-intervention assessments utilizing the motor activity log, Fugl-Meyer Scale, and robotic metrics for muscular strength. Results indicated enhancements in joint range of motion, motor precision, and neuromuscular control, with patient “B” demonstrating superior improvements, particularly in complex motor patterns. In contrast, patient “A” exhibited attenuated progress, attributable to pronounced baseline deficits and fatigue. Specific gains were observed in flexion-extension for patient “A” and pronation-supination for patient “B,” with minimal advancements in radial-ulnar deviation across both subjects. These findings provide preliminary evidence supporting the efficacy of robotic-assisted therapy in motor rehabilitation post-stroke with the novel proposed wrist rehabilitation device.

Keywords

strokehemiparesisrehabilitationwristrobotic therapy

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Type
Research Article
Information
Robotica , First View , pp. 1 - 19
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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