PedBotHome: A Video Game-Based Robotic Ankle Device Created for Home Exercise in Children With Neurological Impairments.
Catherine Coley, Staci Kovelman, Justine Belschner and 8 others
PMID 35385456WHAT IT FOUND
Half the children met the goal of using this home ankle robot for 20 of 28 days.
Technical faults stopped the others. Some children showed improved strength and reduced spasticity, but hardware broke often. This device is feasible for home use, but not yet proven effective.
Key findings
01Only half of the participants achieved the target adherence rate of 20 sessions over 28 days.
02Participants who did not meet the adherence goal experienced technical difficulties that required engineer visits and paused their exercise.
03The study found statistically significant improvements in plantarflexor spasticity and ankle dorsiflexion strength in some participants.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study included only eight participants, so the results are preliminary and cannot determine if the device works for a larger group. Hardware and software failures interrupted therapy for several children, which makes it hard to know if lack of progress was due to the treatment or the broken device. Most participants had previously used a similar clinic-based robot, so they were already familiar with the technology. The cost of the device is $2,000, which is likely too high for most families to pay out of pocket. The study did not measure gait or balance, so it is unknown if these ankle improvements translate to better walking.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was supported by government and non-profit research grants, not by commercial device manufacturers.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the significant changes in strength and spasticity as proof that this device is effective. The study was a small pilot designed to test if the device could be used at home, not to test if it works. Technical failures prevented half the children from completing the intended amount of exercise, so the results reflect a mix of successful use and interrupted therapy.