title: Robotic-assisted rehabilitation of proximal humerus fractures in virtual environments: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  With the growing incidence of upper arm fractures among older people, innovative treatment strategies will be needed in geriatric rehabilitation. A pilot study was designed to test the feasibility of robotic-assisted rehabilitation after proximal humeral fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Within a sample of 8 older patients (79.5 ± 6.12 years), functional ability, quality and range of movement, self-rated impairment, quality of life, and user satisfaction were measured in an observational pre-/postdesign. During rehabilitation robotic-assisted training was applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Training motivation and acceptance were high in this sample, showing improvements in functional ability (p = 0.03), quality of movement (p = 0.02), range of motion, self-evaluation (p = 0.01), and quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot study highlights the possible implementation of robotic-assisted rehabilitation after proximal humeral fractures in geriatric rehabilitation. The measurement and training protocol was suitable to document progress in rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Geriatric Rehabilitation, Robert-Bosch-Hospital, Auerbachstr 110, 70376 Stuttgart, Germany. lars.schwickert@rbk.de
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schwickert
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klenk
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stähler
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lindemann
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D017102:Fracture Healing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015915:Motion Therapy, Continuous Passive / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D012784:Shoulder Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014584:User-Computer Interface