Single Joint Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL-SJ) robotic exoskeleton therapy in improving functional outcomes among workers with wrist fractures: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Journal: PloS one
PMID:

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Robotic technologies have been developed for motor rehabilitation and such robots have shown favourable results when compared with equivalent doses of usual clinical therapy. Recently, robotic interventions have been suggested to be applied in orthopaedic rehabilitation with upper extremity disorders, especially those related to hand and wrist. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of combined conventional therapy and HAL-SJ robotic therapy in restoring the wrist functionality following the fractures as compared to the standard conventional therapy solely.

Authors

  • Eng Wah Tan
    Occupational Therapy Programme, Centre for Rehabilitation & Special Needs Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • Siaw Chui Chai
    Occupational Therapy Programme, Centre for Rehabilitation & Special Needs Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • Yoshiyuki Sankai
  • Masahiro Shingu
    Cyberdyne Inc., Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
  • Nor Afifi Razaob
    Occupational Therapy Programme, Centre for Rehabilitation & Special Needs Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • Hafez Hussain
    PERKESO Rehabilitation Centre, Melaka, Malaysia.