Robotic Assisted Hand Rehabilitation Outcomes in Adults After COVID-19

Development and Clinical Trials of a Rehabilitation Platform to Accelerate the Recovery of Patients With COVID Neuromotor Sequelae

Prolonged hospitalization in severe COVID-19 cases can lead to substantial muscle loss and functional deterioration. While rehabilitation is vital, conventional approaches encounter capacity constraints. Therefore, assessing the efficacy of robotic-assisted rehabilitation is crucial for post-COVID-19 fatigue syndrome patients, aiming to improve motor function and overall recovery. The study focuses on evaluating rehabilitation effectiveness in individuals with upper-extremity impairment using a hand exoskeleton-based robotic system.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Over 30 years old
• Patients infected with COVID-19 and has received care at the Centro Hospitalario Benito Menni
• Patients with acute or limited functional or strength impairment in at least one of the upper extremities
• Patients who would complete a rehabilitation program and a series of patient reported outcome questionnaires and a follow up evaluation
• Patients who give inform written consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of behavioral disorders
• Dementia (loss of memory of cognitive functions)
• Disorders of consciousness (confusional states and drowsiness)
• Uncontrolled or severely limiting delusions and hallucinations
• Infectious skin diseases
• Rrisk of epileptic seizures due to COVID itself or prior to it
• Severe visual impairments
• Severe spasticity with a Modified Ashworth Scale >2, joint stiffness in the wrist and fingers
• Pain with a score >8 on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) during mobilization of the affected hand.