title: Robotic rehabilitation of spinal cord injury individual.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Various types of systems have been used for rehabilitation of Spinal cord injury (SCI) individuals, including mechanical orthoses, functional electrical stimulation (FES), hybrid system and robotic devices. Although, the use of robotic systems for rehabilitation of SCI subjects is increasing, there is not enough evidence to determine the positive and side effects of this system. Therefore, the aim of this review article is to find some evidences to support the influence of use of this system on the performance of the subjects. Furthermore, it was aimed to find the difference between the performances of paraplegic subjects while walking with robotic devices.
  
  
  METHODS
  An electronic search was done based on PubMed, Embase, Ebsco, and ISI Web of Knowledge to extract the data from 1970 to 2012. The quality of the research studies was evaluated by use of Black and Down tool.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although 250 papers have been found based on the selected key words, finally 10 papers have been selected for final analysis. There were only two clinical trials done in this regard. There are some improvements which were reported to body function and activities follow the use of robotic device.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  1. Although various types of orthotic systems have been developed for paraplegic subjects for walking and rehabilitation, there is not enough research in this regard. 2. It is not easy to determine the therapeutic influence of robotic orthosis on the health status of paraplegic subjects. 3. There is a huge gap for a randomized clinical trial research to determine the effect of robotic system on the health status of the SCI subjects.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Faculty, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran. m_karimi@rehab.mui.ac.ir
authors.forename: Mohammad Taghi
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Karimi
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003198:Computer Simulation; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*