Abstract
About 2% of people have weak or paralysed upper limbs (ULs) due to stroke or spinal cord injury (SCI). Physiotherapy involving exercise can improve motor function in many such cases. This chapter reviews conventional and robotic exercise therapy, FES and passive exercise devices that enhance engagement in the UL rehabilitation with computer gaming, which can restore neuromuscular control and improve motivation by making exercise therapy enjoyable. Over the last 10 years many devices have been developed and tested. For example, neuroprostheses that activate hand muscles with functional electrical stimulation (FES). Exercise therapy performed with robotic devices has been one of the most active areas of research and development. It is suggested that important developments in the next few years will include the widespread availability and adoption of affordable FES and in-home exercise devices, and the provision of tele-coaching over the Internet.
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