Application of Robotics for Therapeutic Exercise of Neural Disorder

Abstract

Background: The application of robots for rehabilitation has been developing over the past decade. In neuro-rehabilitation, motor learning has become an important topic. To maximize the efect of motor learning, we need to clarify the key muscle and adequate intensity.Objective: Examination of a new method of robotic rehabilitation that employs a motion capture system and ground reaction force platforms to calculate kinematic and kinetic parameters. Design:A cross-sectional study of healthy subjects and individual cerebral palsy and stroke patients as case studies. Methods:We employed a motion capture system and ground reaction force platforms to calculate kinematic and kinetic parameters of healthy volunteers, a cerebral palsy patient, and a stroke patient in both gait and active movement assessments. This method allows the comparison of motor performances before and after exercise. A hybrid assistive limb (HAL) was employed for the exercise. HAL is a humanoid exoskeletal robot that uses bioelectrical signals as triggers.Results: Immediate and after efects on gait velocity, step length, and hip extensional moments were observed in healthy subjects and the stroke patient. The cerebral palsy patient showed improvement in range of movement in a practised movement.