Sulmona

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of a balance rehabilitation program using serious games compared to conventional treatments in people who have had total hip arthroplasty (hip replacement surgery). This surgery is common worldwide and aims to reduce pain and improve function and quality of life. Rehabilitation after this surgery involves pain management, wound care, movement therapy, and preventing complications, with active patient participation playing an important role in recovery. The study compares two groups: one receiving balance rehabilitation through non-immersive virtual reality serious games using the OAK device for 30 minutes, four days a week, over four weeks; and a control group receiving conventional balance rehabilitation without technology for the same duration and frequency. The serious games involve exercises where patients shift their center of pressure to hit visual targets, with difficulty adjusted by a physiotherapist. The conventional treatment includes exercises focused on trunk control, posture, muscle strength, joint mobility, balance, coordination, and gait re-education. Participants will be involved in 16 sessions over four weeks. Researchers will assess balance recovery using the Time Up and Go Test at the start and after treatment. Throughout the study, patients will be monitored for their ability to perform exercises and any safety issues, with attention to cognitive ability and compliance. The total participation period covers the 4-week intervention and the assessments at baseline and after treatment.

Researchers are evaluating the effects of a robotic rehabilitation treatment using a bilateral exoskeleton called Bilateral Robot-Assisted Therapy (BRAT) during standard rehabilitation in people who have experienced a stroke in the subacute phase. The study compares BRAT to conventional arm re-education to understand its effectiveness in improving upper limb motor function, measured by the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for the upper limb. This randomized controlled trial aims to identify if BRAT provides better motor recovery compared to standard rehabilitation and also explores the impact on quality of life and bilateral arm motor skills. Participants are randomly assigned to either the Experimental Group (EG) or the Control Group (CG). The EG receives standard rehabilitation plus one daily 45-minute BRAT session using the Arm Light Exoskeleton Hybrid (Alex RS - Wearable Robotics) robotic system, with a total of approximately 16 treatment sessions over four weeks. The CG receives standard rehabilitation plus 45 minutes of conventional upper limb exercises with a therapist, including passive, active-assisted, and active exercises, also totaling about 16 sessions over four weeks. The BRAT sessions include device setup, unilateral and bilateral upper limb training with visual and motor feedback. During the study, participants undergo clinical and instrumental evaluations at baseline and after the treatment period. Assessments include clinical rating scales and objective examinations, with a follow-up telephone evaluation three months after treatment ends. The primary outcome measure is the Upper Limb Fugl-Meyer Assessment motor score at baseline and day 28. Researchers will also study neurophysiological and biomechanical effects using EEG, sEMG, and inertial measurement units. The study spans 24 months including enrollment, treatment, and data analysis phases.