Robot-mediated Active Rehabilitation (ACRE) : A user trial

ACRE is a robotic training device for rehabilitation of the upper limbs. ACRE stimulates patients to train their affected arm more frequently and repetitively, via so called game based therapy. A prototype of ACRE (ACRE2) was tested in a user trial with patients who had recently suffered a stroke. Therapists concluded that the ACRE can be useful in addition to the conventional training. After the first user trail specific technical improvements were suggested and realized in a new version of the robot (ACRE3) to increase safety, comfort and autonomous self-training. Patients and therapists experienced training with the ACRE arm pleasant and beneficial for recovery. Eventually, robot-mediated therapy may be applied instead of or in addition to one-to-one therapy and therapist-to-group therapy and may lead to a better rehabilitation. More research is needed especially on the cost-effectiveness of the ACRE in rehabilitation practice. © 2007 IEEE