Robot-aided Neuro-rehabilitation in Stroke: Three-year Follow-up

We are applying robotics and information technology to assist, enhance, and quantify neurorehabilitation. Our goal is a new class of interactive, user-affectionate clinical devices designed not only for evaluating patients, but also for delivering meaningful therapy via engaging “video games.” Notably, the robot MIT-MANUS has been designed and programmed for clinical neurological applications, and has undergone extensive clinical trials for more than four years at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital. Recent reports showed that stroke patients treated daily with additional robot-aided therapy during acute rehabilitation had improved outcome in motor activity at hospital discharge, when compared to a control group that received only standard acute rehabilitation treatment. This paper will review results of a three-year follow-up of the 20 patients enrolled in that clinical trial. The threeyear follow-up showed that: • The improved outcome was sustainable over three years. • The neuro-recovery process continued far beyond the commonly accepted 3 months post-stroke interval. • Neuro-recovery was highly dependent on the lesion location.