Interfacing a haptic robotic system with complex virtual environments to treat impaired upper extremity motor function in children with cerebral palsy

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-1-2010

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the ability of the New Jersey Institute of Technology Robot Assisted Virtual Rehabilitation (NJIT-RAVR) system training to elicit changes in upper extremity (UE) function in children with hemiplegia secondary to cerebral palsy. Methods: Nine children (mean age 9 years, three males) participated in three pilots. Subjects trained 1 hour, 3 days a week for 3 weeks. Two groups performed this protocol as their only intervention. The third group also performed 56 hours of constraint-induced movement therapy. Results: All subjects participated in a short programme of nine, 60-minute training sessions without adverse effects. As a group, subjects demonstrated statistically significant improvements in Melbourne Assessment of Unilateral Upper Limb Function Test, a composite of three timed UE tasks and several measurements of reaching kinematics. Several subjects demonstrated clinically significant improvements in active shoulder abduction and flexion as well as forearm supination. Conclusion: Three small pilots of NJIT-RAVR training demonstrated measurable benefit with no complications, warranting further examination. © 2010 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved.

Identifier

77956603068 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Developmental Neurorehabilitation

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.3109/17518423.2010.501362

e-ISSN

17518431

ISSN

17518423

PubMed ID

20828330

First Page

335

Last Page

345

Issue

5

Volume

13

Grant

H133E050011

Fund Ref

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

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