Evaluating a Robotic Device for Upper Limb Therapy in Parkinsons Disease Compared to Conventional Rehabilitation

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to evaluate how well an end-effector robotic device improves upper limb movements, strength, and coordination in people with mild to moderate Parkinsons disease, compared to conventional rehabilitation. Parkinsons disease is a progressive neurological disorder causing motor symptoms such as slow movement, tremor, and rigidity, which affect daily life and quality of life. While physical rehabilitation helps, evidence on hand dexterity improvements is limited, and robotic therapy offers a new approach to target upper limb function. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups an experimental group receiving 20 sessions of robotic-assisted upper limb therapy using the Motore device, combined with standard rehabilitation or a control group receiving 20 sessions of conventional upper limb rehabilitation with a therapist, also combined with standard care. Each session lasts 45 minutes and occurs three times per week. The robotic therapy involves exercises with visual and force feedback to assist or resist movements of the shoulder, elbow, and wrist, including serious games for motor control, coordination, and cognitive training. During the study, participants will be assessed at baseline and after treatment day 50 using tests like the Box and Block Test, Action Research Arm Test, and Unified Parkinsons Disease Rating Scale to measure upper limb function and coordination. Follow-up evaluations will occur three months post-treatment. Researchers will also monitor participant satisfaction and system usability. The study lasts about three months, with careful tracking of treatment effects and participant compliance.

Upper Limb Rehabilitation in People With Parkinson's Disease: