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Objective: Based on rehabilitation of adult stroke patients using robotic therapy, we explored a similar approach for upper limb (UL) habilitation of children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (HCP).

Methods: We used a novel paediatric robotic device, reachMAN2, for the habilitation of UL in children age 4 to 16 years with HCP. This device trained 3 important movements: pinching movement using thumb and index finger, forearm supination/pronation and wrist flexion/extension. An interactive virtual reality game was developed to engage the child. Each child had 10 robotic therapy sessions over 4 weeks, supervised by a research assistant. At each session, the child had robotic therapy lasting 15 minutes for each of the 3 movements. Three functional assessments were performed by paediatric occupational therapists: first before robotic therapy; second within 2 weeks of completing robotic therapy; the third at 3 months. The assessments included 7 timed tests in the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT), and 3 relevant subtests in the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency 2nd Ed. (BOT-2).

Results: We had 6 subjects, average age 7 year 10 months. There were improvements in the JTHFT, and in the subtests of fine motor precision, fine motor integration and manual dexterity in the BOT-2.

Conclusion: This pilot study established the feasibility of robotic habilitation for children with HCP with some UL functional benefits, some of which were sustained even 2 months later.

Children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy; Upper limb habilitation; Novel paediatric robotic device reachMAN2; Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test; Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency 2nd Ed;