Article

OBJECTIVE: To make a preliminary evaluation of the feasibility of a robot-based
rehabilitation protocol for the improvement of upper limb motor co-ordination in
a group of patients with multiple sclerosis. METHODS:
Seven patients
with multiple sclerosis underwent a training protocol of 8 sessions. During each
session patients performed reaching movements toward virtual targets presented on
a screen, by moving the handle of a robot, which generated resistive and
disturbing forces. Each subject was evaluated before and after the treatment by
means of clinical and instrumental tests. RESULTS: After the 8-session treatment,
all patients significantly improved the velocity, linearity and smoothness of
their reaching movements. Moreover, this amelioration was also present in other
kinds of movement, not executed during the sessions. Results on the Nine-Hole Peg
Test showed a clinically relevant improvement in the treated arm of 4 out of 7
patients, suggesting also a transfer of the therapy effect to tasks more related
to activities of daily living. CONCLUSION: The preliminary results of this pilot
study suggest that robot therapy can be applied to patients with multiple
sclerosis in a clinical setting and may be beneficial for reduction of the upper
limb motor co-ordination deficit.

Langue : ANGLAIS