Effects of robotic therapy on upper-extremity function in children with cerebral palsy: A systematic review

Objective: To systematically examine the effects of robotic therapy on upper extremity (UE) function in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in Pubmed, CINAHL, Cochrane, PsychInfo, TRIP, and Web of Science up to July 2013. Studies of children with CP, using robotic therapy and measures of UE were included. Results: Nine articles using three different robotic systems were included. Of these, seven were case studies. Overall, robotic therapy showed the potential effects as all studies reported at least one positive outcome: a moderate effect in improving reaching duration, smoothness, or decreased muscle tone, and a small to large effect in standardized clinical assessment (e.g. Fugl-Meyer). Conclusion: This review confirms the potential for robotic therapy to improve UE function in children with CP. However, the paucity of group design studies summons the need for more rigorous research before conclusive recommendations can be made.