Feasibility and costs of robot-assisted hand rehabilitation

Descrizione riassuntiva dello studio

Deficits of the upper limb are often the result of neurological or traumatic injuries (e.g., stroke or traumatic brain injuries). These deficits can limit independence in performing activities of daily living, with serious repercussions on patients' quality of life. The literature shows that increasing the dose of therapy for the upper limb could further improve deficits and prevent long-term functional deterioration. However, due to limited resources (e.g., number of therapists) and high costs associated with rehabilitation, providing a higher dose of therapy to patients is challenging, both in the clinic and after discharge. Robot-assisted therapy with minimal or no supervision (i.e., patients training with rehabilitation devices with minimal or no supervision from an external person) could allow for an increase in therapy dose while minimally impacting the additional resources required. However, these robots are often complex to use and have never been thoroughly tested in minimally or non-supervised conditions. Consequently, the available data on their feasibility and costs are limited. At the Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory (RELab, ETH Zurich), we developed ReHandyBot, a device for unsupervised therapy of the upper limb. The main objective of this project is to study the feasibility and costs of robot-assisted rehabilitation, from hospital admission to outpatient care. In particular, we want to assess the feasibility of integrating ReHandyBot into clinical routine and conduct a preliminary cost-benefit analysis of robotic therapy and the intensity of device use in clinical and outpatient settings.

(BASEC)

Intervento studiato

ReHandyBot is a hand rehabilitation device with two degrees of freedom, namely pronation/supination of the forearm and flexion/extension of the fingers. This device allows for targeted exercises aimed at the motor and sensory functions of the upper limb. Various exercises are implemented using virtual reality and haptic feedback. The type and level of difficulty of the exercises are patient-specific and are automatically adjusted during therapy. Therapy with ReHandyBot is integrated into the patients' therapy program. The robot is initially used under the supervision of a therapist. Subsequently, if possible, patients can use the robot during semi-supervised group therapy sessions monitored by therapists or without supervision. The number of therapy sessions with ReHandyBot is determined by the therapists based on the needs of the individual patient. During each session, the robot proposes a series of 3 exercises, each lasting between 10 and 15 minutes.

(BASEC)

Malattie studiate

Deficits of the upper limbs (i.e., hand and/or arm).

(BASEC)

Sponsor

Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory, ETH Zurich

(BASEC)

Nome del comitato etico approvante (per studi multicentrici solo il comitato principale)

Commissione d'etica Ticino

(BASEC)

Data di approvazione del comitato etico

03.02.2025

(BASEC)

Risultati dello studio