Innovations in Upper Limb Rehabilitation Robots: A Review of Mechanisms, Optimization, and Clinical Applications

With the continuous increase in the global aging population, stroke has become one of the major diseases affecting the health of the elderly, and the upper limb motor dysfunction it causes often requires long-term rehabilitation. To improve rehabilitation outcomes for hemiplegic patients and allevia...

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Main Authors: Yang Wang, Xu Han, Baiye Xin, Ping Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Robotics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2218-6581/14/6/81
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author Yang Wang
Xu Han
Baiye Xin
Ping Zhao
author_facet Yang Wang
Xu Han
Baiye Xin
Ping Zhao
author_sort Yang Wang
collection DOAJ
description With the continuous increase in the global aging population, stroke has become one of the major diseases affecting the health of the elderly, and the upper limb motor dysfunction it causes often requires long-term rehabilitation. To improve rehabilitation outcomes for hemiplegic patients and alleviate the shortage of rehabilitation physicians, upper limb rehabilitation robots have shown great potential in enhancing motor function and improving stroke patients’ rehabilitation outcomes in clinical research. This paper first classifies rehabilitation robots based on their driving mechanisms and interaction modes, describing the application of their structural features in various scenarios. It then analyzes the optimization methods used in the trajectory planning process of rehabilitation robots at different stages. Finally, based on existing shortcomings, the paper summarizes the future development directions of upper limb rehabilitation robots, providing prospects for the development of upper limb rehabilitation robots in the areas of artificial intelligence and compliant control, multi-sensory feedback and interactive training, ergonomics and new driving technologies, modular and customizable designs, and multi-modal brain stimulation techniques.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2218-6581
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publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Robotics
spelling doaj-art-44d19a6716b74278b232cb0672dec8212025-08-20T03:29:52ZengMDPI AGRobotics2218-65812025-06-011468110.3390/robotics14060081Innovations in Upper Limb Rehabilitation Robots: A Review of Mechanisms, Optimization, and Clinical ApplicationsYang Wang0Xu Han1Baiye Xin2Ping Zhao3School of Mechanical Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, ChinaWith the continuous increase in the global aging population, stroke has become one of the major diseases affecting the health of the elderly, and the upper limb motor dysfunction it causes often requires long-term rehabilitation. To improve rehabilitation outcomes for hemiplegic patients and alleviate the shortage of rehabilitation physicians, upper limb rehabilitation robots have shown great potential in enhancing motor function and improving stroke patients’ rehabilitation outcomes in clinical research. This paper first classifies rehabilitation robots based on their driving mechanisms and interaction modes, describing the application of their structural features in various scenarios. It then analyzes the optimization methods used in the trajectory planning process of rehabilitation robots at different stages. Finally, based on existing shortcomings, the paper summarizes the future development directions of upper limb rehabilitation robots, providing prospects for the development of upper limb rehabilitation robots in the areas of artificial intelligence and compliant control, multi-sensory feedback and interactive training, ergonomics and new driving technologies, modular and customizable designs, and multi-modal brain stimulation techniques.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-6581/14/6/81upper limb motor dysfunctionupper limb rehabilitation robots
spellingShingle Yang Wang
Xu Han
Baiye Xin
Ping Zhao
Innovations in Upper Limb Rehabilitation Robots: A Review of Mechanisms, Optimization, and Clinical Applications
Robotics
upper limb motor dysfunction
upper limb rehabilitation robots
title Innovations in Upper Limb Rehabilitation Robots: A Review of Mechanisms, Optimization, and Clinical Applications
title_full Innovations in Upper Limb Rehabilitation Robots: A Review of Mechanisms, Optimization, and Clinical Applications
title_fullStr Innovations in Upper Limb Rehabilitation Robots: A Review of Mechanisms, Optimization, and Clinical Applications
title_full_unstemmed Innovations in Upper Limb Rehabilitation Robots: A Review of Mechanisms, Optimization, and Clinical Applications
title_short Innovations in Upper Limb Rehabilitation Robots: A Review of Mechanisms, Optimization, and Clinical Applications
title_sort innovations in upper limb rehabilitation robots a review of mechanisms optimization and clinical applications
topic upper limb motor dysfunction
upper limb rehabilitation robots
url https://www.mdpi.com/2218-6581/14/6/81
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AT xuhan innovationsinupperlimbrehabilitationrobotsareviewofmechanismsoptimizationandclinicalapplications
AT baiyexin innovationsinupperlimbrehabilitationrobotsareviewofmechanismsoptimizationandclinicalapplications
AT pingzhao innovationsinupperlimbrehabilitationrobotsareviewofmechanismsoptimizationandclinicalapplications