Up to 80% of stroke survivors experience issues related to arm function, this affects their ability to perform everyday tasks independently, participate in recreational activities and/or employment, and ultimately, their quality of life.

While evidence-based therapies for stroke recovery continue to evolve, a major limiting factor for their widespread implementation is the requirement for very high doses of high-intensity, highly-repetitive practice in order to promote neuroplastic change and functional recovery. Due to time and resource limitations, meeting the necessary dosage of therapy is not always possible in a hospital or clinical setting.

In recent years, robotic-assisted therapies have emerged with the aim of providing highly repetitious, independent practice – in order to free up therapist time while ensuring patients continue to receive evidence-based therapy.

There is an ever-increasing range of robotic devices available around the world. These devices generally facilitate passive, active, assisted and/or resisted movements during training. Some devices may assist active movements of a single joint, for strength-based training, while others enable multi-joint activity like performing reaching movements to promote motor learning.

Current research suggests that the use of robotic-assisted therapies improves patient outcomes compared to conventional therapies alone.

Banksia Tech was established with the vision that all Australians stroke survivors have access to innovative and evidence-based interventions – for the best chance of optimal recovery. It is our mission to continue to source the best robotic devices around the globe, and bring them to homes, hospitals and clinics around Australia.

Contact us to learn more about our robotic solutions for stroke recovery.

Mehrholz, J., Pohl, M., Platz, T., Kugler, J., & Elsner, B. (2023). "Electromechanical and robot-assisted arm training for improving arm function, activities of daily living, and arm muscle strength after stroke." Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.