Effects of robot-assisted task-oriented training on upper limb function and activities of daily living in patients with stroke: A systematic review

Objective This study was undertaken to systematically examine the effects of robot-assisted, task-oriented training on upper limb function and activities of daily living in patients with stroke. Methods A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS, CINAHL, and Ovid LWW databases in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines, including literature published from 2014 to 2025. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials that compared an experimental group receiving robot-assisted task-oriented training with a control group undergoing conventional treatment or alternative interventions and evaluated upper limb function and activities of daily living outcomes. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale was used to assess the methodological quality of the literature. This systematic review was registered with the Open Science Framework (DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/4DT6G). Results Ten studies were included in the analysis. Robot-assisted interventions consistently improved upper extremity motor function, particularly when implemented as an adjunct to conventional therapy or integrated with advanced technologies such as functional electrical stimulation. However, activities of daily living–related improvements varied across studies, and functional improvements were confirmed in only three studies. The effectiveness of robotic intervention depended on the intervention modality, stroke phase, and technological integration. Conclusions Robot-assisted task-oriented training can effectively improve upper limb function in patients with stroke, and in some cases, combining it with conventional therapy may produce synergistic effects. Nevertheless, evidence regarding improvements in activities of daily living and long-term maintenance effects remains limited. Further high-quality randomized trials focusing on optimizing specific clinical dimensions and facilitating the transfer of motor recovery to activities of daily living are required.