Exoskeleton Robotics Intervention as an Adjunctive Treatment in Enhancing Post-Stroke Upper Limb Neurorecovery

Abstract

Mirror therapy is a visual feedback therapy used in stroke rehabilitation with unilateral upper limb weakness that tricks the brain into thinking their affected weak upper limb can move through a mirror reflection. Malaysia Exoskeletal Robot Assisted Therapy (MyERAT) underpins the concept of mirror therapy, a system integration between a sensor glove and an exoskeleton glove worn onto the patient's affected arm to improve movement through visual feedback from a mirror reflection of a foldable mirror box. An exoskeleton is a wearable external device used to assist an injured limb in motion during the rehabilitation process. A potentiometer is a sensor utilized to measure resistance produced through sliding contact. In the system, unaffected upper limb movement manages the sensors that provide ADC reading values to control the exoskeleton movement. The movements are video recorded and uploaded into Kinovea software to obtain delay time. Upon initial test run, the system is accepted as a robotic hand with a delay time locate below 300 to 400 ms. Robotic exoskeleton might adjunct the conventional method of mirror therapy by providing two-way feedback between the brain and affected hand that enhances the neuroplasticity process, hasten the neuro recovery in post-stroke survivors.