Experience of Use and Biopsychosocial Effects of Robotic and Virtual Reality Devices in Neuromotor Rehabilitation

Patients will receive conventional treatment consisting of two daily one-hour session (4 weeks) and including traditional rehabilitation activities like range of motion exercises (passive, active assisted and active), progressive resistive exercises, balance and strength training, and aerobic conditioning. The intervention procedures will follow the routine multidisciplinary clinical practice of the Institute where the study will be carried out. Procedures will be adapted according to patient's medical diagnosis, disability severity, and to the consequent rehabilitation objectives in favor of an individualized rehabilitation project and program. If necessary, patients might therefore undergo parallel rehabilitation activities (ie, occupational therapy, speech therapy, cognitive stimulation) that will be kept under control throughout data collection and analyses.

"According to their individualized rehabilitation project, patients will undergo RAT or non-immersive VR-based rehabilitation.~RAT will consist of three times a week one-hour session (4 weeks) and will be conducted by the implementation of an exoskeleton device for the upper limbs (Armeo-Spring™) or for the lower limbs (Lokomat™).~VR-based rehabilitation will consist of one daily one-hour session (4 weeks) and will be conducted by the implementation of a single non-immersive VR device among the Riablo™ (Corehab, Italy), the ProKin 252™ (TechnoBody SRL, Italy), the D-Wall™ (TechnoBody SRL, Italy), the Walker View™ (TechnoBody SRL, Italy).~Part of the duration of the whole treatment will be dedicated to the use of the device, resulting in the same amount of rehabilitation for all participants."