Assistive and rehabilitation robotics for upper limb impairments in post-stroke patients: Evaluation criteria for the design and functionality

Rehabilitation and assistive robotics are beneficial for chronic and subacute stroke patients with upper limb impairments. Rehabilitation robotics is the use of robotic machinery and devices during therapy sessions to motivate and optimize the patient's upper limb motor functions. While assistive robotics is the use of portable robotic devices, which can assist the post stroke user with their upper limb movements along their daily tasks. Assistive robotic devices may also allow patients to 'in-directly' improve their motor functions through encouraging them to utilize their affected limb on daily basis. Thus, an assistive device is seen to be essential complementary to a rehabilitation device. Before marketing these two types of devices, they should undergo evaluation studies and clinical trials. This process will not only ensure patient's safety and optimal outcomes, but also help to overcome challenges in promoting the final product. The aim of this short article is to provide a brief review of current rehabilitation and assistive robotics, highlighting how they are complementary to each other, and how they can be evaluated and improved.