Efficacy of Armeo® Robotic Therapy Versus Conventional Therapy on Upper Limb Function in Children with Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of Armeo robotic therapy, compared with conventional therapy, on upper limb function in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Design Thirty children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, with ages ranging from 6 to 8 yrs, were selected for this randomized controlled study and randomly assigned to two groups. The study group (n = 15) received 12 wks of Armeo robotic therapy (45 min/session, 3 days/wk) and the control group (n = 15) received conventional therapy for the same period. The measured outcomes were the Modified Ashworth Scale and the Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test, measured at baseline and after 12 wks of intervention. Results Children in the study group showed significant improvement in the mean values of all the measured variables, compared with those in the control group (P < 0.05). Postintervention Modified Ashworth Scale scores for the study and control groups were 1.6 (0.3) and 2 (0.5), respectively. Postinterventional Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test total scores for the study and control groups were 84.6 (2.7) and 79.1 (2), respectively. Conclusions Armeo robotic therapy is significantly more effective than conventional therapy in improving the upper limb quality of movement in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.