Introduction
Upper limb impairment is an important problem for spinal cord injury patients, which affects their activities of daily living and lifestyle activities. Therefore, the improvement of upper limbs with appropriate techniques and training equipment is very important for the most effective rehabilitation.
Objective
To study the effectiveness of robotic-assisted therapy combined with traditional occupational rehabilitation in promoting upper limb mobility in chronic tetraplegia.
Method
Participants were 15 patients with chronic tetraplegia. There were 2 groups, divided into 7 experimental group members and 8 control group members. Both groups were rehabilitated 3 times a week for 60 minutes each session over 5 weeks, totaling 15 training sessions. The control group received occupational therapy training, while the experimental group was trained in occupational therapy combined with robot-assisted rehabilitation therapy. The measurements consisted of: 1) Upper extremity muscle strength 2) Modified Jebsen-Taylor Test of Hand Function, and 3) Self-help ability assessed by Spinal Cord Independence Measure III (SCIM-III). These assessments were conducted three times: before training, after the 3rd week, and after the 5th week of the rehabilitation program
Result
Occupational therapy and occupational therapy training combined with robot-assisted rehabilitation therapy were effective in increasing muscle strength, improving upper limb movement control, and enhancing the ability to perform daily activities.
Conclusion
Occupational therapy training combined with robot-assisted rehabilitation therapy is an effective method for restoring upper extremity abilities in patients with chronic tetraplegia.