Personalized Robotic Telerehabilitation for Upper Limb Functional Recovery After Stroke in a Home-Based Setting

Summary

Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide, with upper-limb impairment representing a major determinant of functional limitation and reduced independence. Conventional rehabilitation approaches are often limited by accessibility, intensity, and long-term adherence, highlighting the need for innovative, home-based solutions.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a personalized robotic telerehabilitation program for upper-limb recovery in individuals with post-stroke motor impairment. The intervention combines a wearable robotic device with a virtual reality-based platform, enabling patients to perform structured, task-oriented exercises in a home environment under remote supervision.

Participants will be allocated to either a robotic-assisted telerehabilitation program or a control condition based on virtual reality-based rehabilitation alone. Motor recovery will be assessed using standardized clinical scales, including the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity (FMA-UE), along with measures of functional performance, patient-reported outcomes, and treatment adherence.

By integrating robotic assistance with telemedicine, this study seeks to enhance rehabilitation intensity, improve patient engagement, and facilitate continuity of care beyond traditional clinical settings. The results are expected to support the development of accessible, personalized rehabilitation pathways for individuals with stroke-related upper-limb disability.

Conditions

• Stroke
• Hemiparesis
• Upper Extremity Paresis
• Motor Impairment
• Rehabilitation

Interventions

DEVICE

Robotic-Assisted Telerehabilitation Virtual Reality-Based Telerehabilitation

Experimental: Robotic-Assisted Telerehabilitation for Upper Limb Recovery Arm Description: Participants assigned to the experimental group will receive a home-based telerehabilitation program supported by a wearable robotic device integrated with a virtual reality-based rehabilitation platform. The intervention consists of daily 60-minute sessions over a 4-week period, including passive and active-assisted upper-limb mobilization, task-oriented exercises, and exergaming activities, with remote supervision by a physiotherapist.

OTHER

Virtual reality-based rehabilitation platform without robotic assistance

Active Comparator: Virtual Reality Telerehabilitation Without Robotic Support Arm Description: Participants assigned to the control group will receive a home-based telerehabilitation program delivered through a virtual reality-based rehabilitation platform. The intervention consists of daily 60-minute sessions over a 4-week period, including upper-limb mobilization exercises, task-oriented training, and interactive exergaming activities. All sessions will be remotely supervised by a physiotherapist to ensure correct execution and adherence to the protocol.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-06-01

Primary Completion

2027-05-30

Completion

2027-05-30