A case study on a man affected by ICU-acquired muscle weakness after severe respiratory failure shows that the addition of technology-aided rehabilitation tools (Lokomat®, Armeo®Spring and virtual reality) to conventional therapy is feasible and that adding this technology contributes greatly to improved outcomes after a 2-month training period. Robot-aided rehabilitation in such patients may enhance the effects of functional training by providing the patient with highly intensive, repetitive, and task-oriented motor and cognitive tasks, thus bypassing the persistent limb weakness through the use of robotic devices.

Link to original publication:

Chillura, et al. (2020). Advances in the rehabilitation of intensive care unit acquired weakness: a case report on the promising use of robotics and virtual reality coupled to physiotherapy. Medicine 2020; 99:28 (e20939).