Robot-Assisted Motivating Rehabilitation

Typically, after brain damage due to a stroke, the affected arm is weak and suffering from some of paralysis. As a result, adults with this condition are unable to move their impaired arm well during their activities of daily living. Our research is focused on understanding how best to improve the ability of the arm to move after brain damage due to a stroke. We have implemented novel robot technology designed for eventual use as a home therapy device and have used software and hardware technologies to design activities that can assess the arm ability and engage the person during therapy. We will study how the prolong use of this device with simple, functional, and engaging activities improve the arm's movement ability and sustain motivation to use the arm over repeated therapy sessions and away from supervision.

Overall, we will establish whether using our technology to perform tasks that are more or less game-like and functionally relevant to driving will make a difference in the impaired arm after stroke. Two groups of stroke survivors will be followed while they complete therapy. We have three main aims. In aim #1, we will determine whether therapy using functional tasks compared to simple rote tasks lead to significant increases in the use of the arm during therapy and the arm improvements experienced by the subjects after the therapy. In aim #2, we will measure how each group engage in the more and less functional therapy and monitor their effort and enjoyment during training. This aim will help us to determine the value of more fun training. In aim #3, we will upgrade our technology for use in the home therapy environment and follow some subjects to determine if the results change in under supervised condition (at home)