Effectiveness of Robotic Rehabilitation in the Management of Stroke Patients—A Literature Review

Background and Objective: Stroke is considered a root cause of disability worldwide, adversely affecting movement and balance. It requires comprehensive rehabilitation to achieve maximum recovery. Gait training, including robot-assisted methods, is crucial in restoring independence among stroke survivors. Balance impairment leads to challenges that demand specialized interventions, while cognitive deficits add complexity to rehabilitation. Despite ongoing research, optimizing outcomes remains a challenge, urging innovation in trial design and intervention strategies to enhance the effectiveness during stroke rehabilitation. This literature review highlights the evidence regarding the uses and effectiveness of robotic rehabilitation amongst stroke survivors. Methods: The searches were performed on databases like PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar using keywords such as gait, balance, cognitive ability, and upper limb rehabilitation. The inclusion criteria were the studies published in English with a study design of randomized controlled trials focusing on stroke patients. The intervention included robotic rehabilitation. Qualitative data synthesis was gathered after screening the abstracts and full texts of the included articles. Result: This literature review found that robotic rehabilitation, including intensive and personalized sessions, targeted resistance, augmented feedback, and sensory inputs, yields significant improvements across multiple domains for stroke patients. These improvements include enhanced gait parameters, balance, cognitive abilities, and upper limb functionality. Robotic-assisted therapy can improve motor function, coordination, memory, attention, and sensory perception, ultimately contributing to better recovery and quality of life for individuals affected by stroke. Conclusion: This study concluded that combining robotic rehabilitation with other techniques can provide enhanced benefits compared to conventional rehabilitation. However, more studies are required to reach any firm conclusion.