title: Robotic upper limb rehabilitation after acute stroke by NeReBot: evaluation of treatment costs.
abstract: Stroke is the first cause of disability. Several robotic devices have been developed for stroke rehabilitation. Robot therapy by NeReBot is demonstrated to be an effective tool for the treatment of poststroke paretic upper limbs, able to improve the activities of daily living of stroke survivors when used both as additional treatment and in partial substitution of conventional rehabilitation therapy in the acute and subacute phases poststroke. This study presents the evaluation of the costs related to delivering such therapy, in comparison with conventional rehabilitation treatment. By comparing several NeReBot treatment protocols, made of different combinations of robotic and nonrobotic exercises, we show that robotic technology can be a valuable and economically sustainable aid in the management of poststroke patient rehabilitation.
authors: Rehabilitation Unit, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, via Giustiniani 1, 35128 Padova, Italy.
authors: Masiero
authors: M
authors: Stefano
authors: Rehabilitation Unit, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, via Giustiniani 1, 35128 Padova, Italy.
authors: Poli
authors: P
authors: Patrizia
authors: Medical Management, Eremo Hospital, Arco (Trento), Italy.
authors: Armani
authors: A
authors: Mario
authors: Neurorehabilitation Unit, Eremo Hospital, Arco (Trento), Italy.
authors: Gregorio
authors: G
authors: Ferlini
authors: Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Provincial Agency for Health Services of Trento, Italy.
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Rizzello
authors: Department of Management and Engineering, University of Padova, Italy.
authors: Giulio
authors: 0000-0002-5150-9486
authors: G
authors: Rosati
mesh_terms: D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010291:Paresis / Q000191:economics / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012371:Robotics / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D034941:Upper Extremity