PT Journal
AU Rahman, T
   Basante, J
   Alexander, M
TI Robotics and Assistive Technology to Improve Function in Neuromuscular Diseases
SO Acta Mechanica Slovaca
PY 2014
BP 50
EP 57
VL 18
IS 1
DI 10.21496/ams.2014.007
DE Robotics; Rehabilitation; Orthotics; Occupational therapy
AB Therapeutic techniques for people with movement disorders are described along with technology that can be used to mitigate the symptoms. Disorders that affect movement include muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, cerebral palsy and others. The article discusses conventional occupation therapy techniques currently used and robotic and orthotic devices that are seen in a research and clinical setting. First the neuromuscular disease presentation is described. Next the current assistive technology techniques and devices are outlined. Finally, robots and orthoses for the upper and lower extremity are described in terms of effectiveness and cost. The robots are divided into assistive and therapeutic sections and they are further treated as passive and active devices.
ER