Electrodiagnostic effect of Armeo® Robotic Therapy versus Conventional Therapy in Erb's Palsy Children

2021 The Annals of Clinical and Analytical Medicine  
Aim: This study aimed to examine the efficacy of Armeo robotic therapy versus conventional therapy for upper limb function in children with Erb's palsy. Material and Methods: Thirty children with Erb's palsy, aged 3 to 5 years, were selected for this randomized controlled study and randomly assigned into two equal groups. The control group (A) received conventional therapy and the study group (B) received Armeo robotic therapy. Intervention for both groups continued 45 minutes, 3 days/week for
more » ... 2 successive weeks. The range of motion (ROM) of wrist extension using a digital electro-goniometer and the percentages of deltoid and biceps muscle degeneration using Electroneurography (ENoG) were evaluated for both groups before and after the intervention. Result: A substantial decrease in the percentage of degeneration occurred in the biceps and deltoid in Group (B) compared with that of Group (A) post treatment (p > 0.001), and a significant increase occurred in wrist extension ROM in Group (B) compared with that of Group (A) post treatment (p > 0.001). The findings obtained clearly endorse the implementation of Armeo ® Robotic Therapy as an alternative to care program for children with Erb's palsy. Discussion: Children with motor dysfunction could be improved using targeted functional training. Variations in repeated movements and enriched environments play an important role in motivating children, thereby enhancing training intensity and effectiveness. The use of robotic machines as a possible rehabilitation strategy for achieving motor recovery may be justified by the beneficial effects on motor learning and therapeutic effects, since robotic training prolongs the duration and increases the training intensity.
doi:10.4328/acam.20324 fatcat:7dsryqzbzbgnrbaqleeiyumexa