Technological Approaches for Evaluation and Rehabilitation
摘要
Development of technologies over the last years has significantly changed rehabilitative approaches for children with cerebral palsy (CP). It is widely known that technological devices have led to improved motivation and participation, particularly for the pediatric population, and permit them to deliver intensive, personalized, and goal-oriented training programs. The currently used technologies for CP children are developed to respond to diagnostic, monitoring, assistive, and rehabilitation needs in motor, cognitive, and speech domains. Regarding the motor domain, the application of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) has led to a more engaging environment for assessment and training of balance and postural ability, gait, and upper limb rehabilitation. They are also used in association with wearable sensors and markers to detect body movements during therapeutic sessions with robotic systems. Robotic devices allow measurement of kinematic and kinetic parameters and deliver passive, active, completely assisted, and active-assisted training. More recently, different models of wearable exoskeletons have been designed for CP children, for lower limb rehabilitation and walking assistance. Despite limited literature, this technology has also been employed for both assessment and rehabilitation of cognitive, communication, and neuropsychological functions in CP children. In addition to VR, computer-based and Web-based programs are widely used in this field, mainly including home-based interventions. Assistive technologies like eye tracker systems and simple technologies play an important role in cognitive and communication support and training in CP children.