title: Robotic Mirror Therapy System for Functional Recovery of Hemiplegic Arms.
abstract: Mirror therapy has been performed as effective occupational therapy in a clinical setting for functional recovery of a hemiplegic arm after stroke. It is conducted by eliciting an illusion through use of a mirror as if the hemiplegic arm is moving in real-time while moving the healthy arm. It can facilitate brain neuroplasticity through activation of the sensorimotor cortex. However, conventional mirror therapy has a critical limitation in that the hemiplegic arm is not actually moving. Thus, we developed a real-time 2-axis mirror robot system as a simple add-on module for conventional mirror therapy using a closed feedback mechanism, which enables real-time movement of the hemiplegic arm. We used 3 Attitude and Heading Reference System sensors, 2 brushless DC motors for elbow and wrist joints, and exoskeletal frames. In a feasibility study on 6 healthy subjects, robotic mirror therapy was safe and feasible. We further selected tasks useful for activities of daily living training through feedback from rehabilitation doctors. A chronic stroke patient showed improvement in the Fugl-Meyer assessment scale and elbow flexor spasticity after a 2-week application of the mirror robot system. Robotic mirror therapy may enhance proprioceptive input to the sensory cortex, which is considered to be important in neuroplasticity and functional recovery of hemiplegic arms. The mirror robot system presented herein can be easily developed and utilized effectively to advance occupational therapy.
authors: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Seoul National University College of Medicine; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Chungnam National University Hospital.
authors: Jaewon
authors: J
authors: Beom
authors: Interdisciplinary Program for Bioengineering, Seoul National University Graduate School.
authors: Sukgyu
authors: S
authors: Koh
authors: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Seoul National University College of Medicine.
authors: Hyung Seok
authors: HS
authors: Nam
authors: Interdisciplinary Program for Bioengineering, Seoul National University Graduate School.
authors: Wonshik
authors: W
authors: Kim
authors: Interdisciplinary Program for Bioengineering, Seoul National University Graduate School.
authors: Yoonjae
authors: Y
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital.
authors: Han Gil
authors: HG
authors: Seo
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital; Seoul National University College of Medicine.
authors: Byung-Mo
authors: BM
authors: Oh
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital; Seoul National University College of Medicine.
authors: Sun Gun
authors: SG
authors: Chung
authors: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Seoul National University College of Medicine; Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University; sungwan@snu.ac.kr.
authors: Sungwan
authors: S
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001132:Arm; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D009068:Movement; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods*