Efficacy of Armeo® Robotic Therapy Versus Conventional Therapy on Upper Limb Function in Children With Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of Armeo robotic therapy, compared with conventional therapy, on upper limb function in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Design: Thirty children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, with ages ranging from 6 to 8 yrs, were selected for this randomized controlled study and randomly assigned to two groups. The study group (n = 15) received 12 wks of Armeo robotic therapy (45 min/session, 3 days/wk) and the control group (n = 15) received conventional therapy for the same period. The measured outcomes were the Modified Ashworth Scale and the Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test, measured at baseline and after 12 wks of intervention. Results: Children in the study group showed significant improvement in themean values of all the measured variables, comparedwith those in the control group (P < 0.05). Postintervention Modified Ashworth Scale scores for the study and control groupswere 1.6 (0.3) and 2 (0.5), respectively. Postinterventional Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test total scores for the study and control groups were 84.6 (2.7) and 79.1 (2), respectively. Conclusions: Armeo robotic therapy is significantly more effective than conventional therapy in improving the upper limb quality ofmovement in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]