Robotic arm aids stroke recovery

BOSTON, March 23 (UPI) -- A new kind of robotic therapy developed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology engineers is making movement easier for those recovering from stroke.

A study in the April 2007 issue of the American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation shows the robotic device had positive results for six severe stroke patients in a pilot clinical trial.

The robotic therapy device senses the patient's electrical muscle activity and provides power assistance to facilitate movements.

The results show "the ability of the device to provide a 'power assist' may help close the feedback loop of brain intention and actual limb movement," according to the study.

On average, 23 percent of arm function improved after using the brace -- which is portable and lightweight and slides onto the arm, according to Charles Cooney, faculty director of the Deshpande Center at MIT.

In addition, the arm-muscle tightness typical of stroke victims was greatly reduced.