Modelling the recovery of acute stroke survivors during adaptive robot-assisted training

The assessment obtained by both automatic scores of patients’ performance enrolled in the robotic group shown a marked decrease of movement time (p < 0.005) and marked increase of smoothness, measured by counting the number of peaks in the velocity profile (p < 0.005). A correlation was observed between the two automatic performance indexes and the functional indexes of BAT scale (p < 0.05). The performance improvement in movement execution was analysed over different directions of space by means of the robot-based assessment. A significant improvement was observed mainly in the ipsilateral space (p < 0.05), while less significant improvement was obtained in the contralateral space. Discussion: This study confirm previous results obtained with a robotic exoskeleton providing indications that robotic treatment associated to rehabilitation of hand function might lead to significant improvement of motor function, if compared to physical therapy. Moreover it appears that the observed improvement in smoothness of movement, assessed by the robot, represents a predictive indicator of both clinical assessment and regained ability to perform activity of everyday life.