title: Upper limb robot-assisted therapy in cerebral palsy: a single-blind randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several pilot studies have evoked interest in robot-assisted therapy (RAT) in children with cerebral palsy (CP).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effectiveness of RAT in children with CP through a single-blind randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen children with CP were randomized into 2 groups. Eight children performed 5 conventional therapy sessions per week over 8 weeks (control group). Eight children completed 3 conventional therapy sessions and 2 robot-assisted sessions per week over 8 weeks (robotic group). For both groups, each therapy session lasted 45 minutes. Throughout each RAT session, the patient attempted to reach several targets consecutively with the REAPlan. The REAPlan is a distal effector robot that allows for displacements of the upper limb in the horizontal plane. A blinded assessment was performed before and after the intervention with respect to the International Classification of Functioning framework: body structure and function (upper limb kinematics, Box and Block test, Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test, strength, and spasticity), activities (Abilhand-Kids, Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory), and participation (Life Habits).
  
  
  RESULTS
  During each RAT session, patients performed 744 movements on average with the REAPlan. Among the variables assessed, the smoothness of movement (P < .01) and manual dexterity assessed by the Box and Block test (P = .04) improved significantly more in the robotic group than in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This single-blind randomized controlled trial provides the first evidence that RAT is effective in children with CP. Future studies should investigate the long-term effects of this therapy.
authors.affiliation: Université catholique de Louvain, Institute of Neuroscience, Brussels, Belgium Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain Bionics, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
authors.forename: Maxime
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gilliaux
authors.affiliation: Université catholique de Louvain, Institute of Neuroscience, Brussels, Belgium Université catholique de Louvain, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Renders
authors.affiliation: Université catholique de Louvain, Institute of Neuroscience, Brussels, Belgium Université catholique de Louvain, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dispa
authors.affiliation: Institut d'Enseignement Supérieur Parnasse-Deux Alice, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Holvoet
authors.affiliation: Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain Bionics, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium Université catholique de Louvain, Institute of Mechanics, Materials and Civil Engineering, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sapin
authors.affiliation: Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain Bionics, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium Université catholique de Louvain, Institute of Mechanics, Materials and Civil Engineering, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dehez
authors.affiliation: Université catholique de Louvain, Institute of Neuroscience, Brussels, Belgium Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain Bionics, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Detrembleur
authors.affiliation: Université catholique de Louvain, Institute of Neuroscience, Brussels, Belgium Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain Bionics, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium Université catholique de Louvain, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium thierry.lejeune@uclouvain.be.
authors.forename: Thierry M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Lejeune
authors.affiliation: Université catholique de Louvain, Institute of Neuroscience, Brussels, Belgium Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain Bionics, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium Université catholique de Louvain, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Gaëtan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stoquart
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Disability and Health; International Classification of Functioning; cerebral palsy; kinematics; motor learning; pediatrics; rehabilitation; robotics