A review of upper extremity rehabilitation robots in patients with hemiplegia and technology adaptation studies

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the application value and technical adaptability of upper limb rehabilitation robots in the rehabilitation of patients with hemiplegia, analyze the impact of their drive technology, motion control modes and motion intention recognition technology on rehabilitation outcomes and provide technical optimization directions for clinical rehabilitation equipment. Design/methodology/approach Through a literature review, this study summarizes the clinical research progress of upper limb rehabilitation robots in the rehabilitation of patients with hemiplegia. It focuses on analyzing the impact of drive technology on training accuracy and safety, comparing the differences in motion control modes and clinical outcomes across different rehabilitation stages, evaluating how motion intention recognition technology optimizes human–machine collaboration and providing technical adaptability recommendations based on clinical research. Findings This paper provides a systematic review of the clinical application effects of upper limb rehabilitation robots. The results show that, compared with traditional physical therapy (control group), the robot group had significantly higher Fugl–Meyer assessment scores and significantly lower modified Ashworth score scores than the control group. Therefore, the use of robot-assisted therapy can not only improve clinical rehabilitation outcomes but also address the issue of talent shortages in the rehabilitation industry. Originality/value This paper addresses the lack of research on the adaptability of upper limb rehabilitation robot technology and breaks through the traditional framework of efficacy assessment. It explores key issues related to the technical adaptability of drive technology, motion control modes and motion intention recognition, providing theoretical basis and practical reference for the design of precise rehabilitation programs and the integration of adaptive multimodal technologies.