Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40001723›Full record

ReviewBioengineering (Basel, Switzerland)2025

Exploring the Impact of Socially Assistive Robots in Rehabilitation Scenarios.

Arianna Carnevale, Alessandra Raso, Carla Antonacci, Letizia Mancini, Alessandra Corradini, Alice Ceccaroli, Carlo Casciaro, Vincenzo Candela, Alessandro de Sire, Pieter D'Hooghe and 1 more

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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  5. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Arianna CarnevaleFondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Álvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Roma, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-4543-1149
Alessandra RasoFondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Álvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Roma, Italy.
Carla AntonacciFondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Álvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Roma, Italy.ORCID 0009-0006-2030-8776
Letizia ManciniFondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Álvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Roma, Italy.ORCID 0009-0005-7785-5693
Alessandra CorradiniFondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Álvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Roma, Italy.ORCID 0009-0005-2725-0020
Alice CeccaroliFondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Álvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Roma, Italy.
Carlo CasciaroFondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Álvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Roma, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-2496-1116
Vincenzo CandelaFondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Álvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Roma, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-0047-2748
Alessandro de SireDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Catanzaro "Magna Graecia", 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-5541-8346
Pieter D'HoogheDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sportsmedicine, Aspetar Hospital, Doha 29222, Qatar.
Umile Giuseppe LongoFondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Álvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Roma, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-4063-9821

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSocially Assistive Robots (SARs) represent an innovative approach in rehabilitation technology, significantly enhancing the support and motivation for individuals across diverse rehabilitation settings. Despite their growing utilization, especially in stroke recovery and pediatric rehabilitation, their potential in musculoskeletal and orthopedic rehabilitation remains largely underexplored. Although there is methodological and outcome variability across the included studies, this review aims to critically evaluate and summarize the research on SARs in rehabilitation, providing a thorough overview of the current evidence and practical applications.

methodsA comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases, resulting in the selection of 20 studies for analysis. The reviewed papers were categorized into three main classes based on the roles of the robots in rehabilitation: Motivation, Imitation, and Feedback Providers.

resultsThe analysis highlights that SARs significantly improve adherence to rehabilitation programs, enhance motor function, and increase motivation across clinical and home settings. Robots such as NAO, Pepper, and ZORA demonstrated high efficacy, particularly in stroke recovery and pediatric rehabilitation.

conclusionsSARs offer transformative benefits in rehabilitation, providing scalable, personalized solutions through motivational support, guided exercises, and real-time feedback. Their integration into orthopedic rehabilitation could address critical clinical needs, enhancing precision in exercises, adherence to long-term programs, and overall patient outcomes. Future research should prioritize the development and validation of SAR-based interventions for musculoskeletal disorders to unlock their full potential in this domain.

Indexed as

motivationpatient engagementphysical therapyrehabilitationrobot-assisted therapysocially assistive robots

Identifiers

PMID40001723
PMCPMC11851852

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.