The aim of this study is to present an innovative scenario for upper limb motor and cognitive rehabilitation using the robot Motore (Humanware s.r.l., Pisa, Italy), a planar end-effector device for elbow and shoulder rehabilitation.
The main features of the proposed scenario are (i) strong cohesion between intellectual and motor effort, (ii) highly versatility allowed on the single exercises and (iii) capacity to immerse the player into the plot motivating him/her in solving the game.
A human-centered approach was used to identify the rehabilitation exercises by means of the analysis of clinical scales for cognitive impairment (e.g., Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination) and the cooperation with a physiatrist and four speech therapists at the Rehabilitation Dept., Versilia hospital, Camaiore, Italy.
The resulting scenario is characterized by a main room where the patient can explore and access to three different exercises, comprehensive of both motor practise, in free mode or constrained movement, and base cognitive functions like visuospatial association, short term memory and working memory. The scenario is available in three difficulty levels both from the cognitive and motor aspects.
Two different types of assistance are provided to the patient when needed: cognitive and motor.
A pilot study with 7 patients for a duration of two weeks has been conduced at the Rehabilitation Department, Versilia hospital, Camaiore, Italy, with the aim of optimization of the scenario
