Abstract:

Rehabilitation is a functional therapy, based on a detailed functional assessment. Ultimately, we observe an introduction of devices, based on robots and virtual reality, in neurorehabilitation (NR) clinical practice. Every rehabilitation (and NR) procedure is based on neuroplasticity and robots can accelerate the process. Therefore, we decided to prepare an educational module on the topic “Rehabilitation using robots, neuro-robots and virtual reality” and we prepared an electronic book (e-book), oriented to “Robotic neurorehabilitation”, as an interdisciplinary thematic field between neuroscience, neurorehabilitation, robotics and artificial intelligence.

In the educational module and in the e-book we included: Definition of robot, neuro-robot and virtual reality (VR); Common tasks of a robot and a neuro-robot; Types of robots, Qualities of robots and the user-computer interface; safety and efficacy of application of neuro-robots and VR in NR; influence of robots and VR on neuroplasticity. We underlined on the difference between robots for NR and electro-mechanical devices (as treadmills with body-weight support); and the difference between VR for NR and a standard computer-based video-game. We described in details the principal laws of robots and neuro-robots for neurorehabilitation. We presented the qualities of a robot and the different types of neuro-robots for NR: for upper and for lower extremities, unilateral (for grasp training) and bilateral (for balance and gait training); exoskeletons and controllers of endpoint trajectories. We explained in details the effects of robotic NR with VR on neuroplasticity, especially on use-dependent plasticity (training plasticity or activity-depending plasticity). We emphasized the potential of sensors of the neuro-robot for adaptation of its function to patient’s capacities and for evaluation of the active and passive range of motion, muscle force, stiffness (spasticity), gait velocity, distance and duration of the procedures, body weight support change and guidance force change (comparison between the first and the last sessions). We enlightened scientific studies, proving the efficacy of the application of neuro-robots – stimulation of neuroplasticity, clinical effects of acceleration of functional recovery and amelioration of the quality of life of patients with neurological and neurosurgical conditions, as post-stroke hemiparesis, hemiparesis after traumatic brain injury or after neurosurgical intervention for brain tumors; multiple sclerosis; paraparesis after traumatic spinal cord injury, etc.

We evaluated the professional competencies of participants in the educational module – before and after the electronic course.

We consider very important the introduction of the topic in the education of students and trainees – members of the multi-disciplinary NR-team: medical doctors – specialists and residents in Neurology and in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine; nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and psychologists.
The application in NR of devices, using robots and virtual reality, stimulates functional recovery and autonomy of our patients in activities of daily living, and ameliorates their quality of life.

Keywords:

Robot, virtual reality, neurorobotics, neurorehabilitation, grasp, gait, functional recovery, autonomy, activities in daily living.