Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42197852›Full record

ArticleSensors (Basel, Switzerland)2026

Formative Evaluation of Safety and Usability of a Mixed-Reality Robot-Assisted Telerehabilitation System for Post-Stroke Upper-Limb Therapy.

Md Mahafuzur Rahaman Khan, Kishor Lakshminarayanan, Inga Wang, Jennifer Barber, Erin M McGonigle Ketchum, Mohammad H Rahman

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Sensors (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

6 authors.

Md Mahafuzur Rahaman KhanDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-3945-3405
Kishor LakshminarayananDepartment of School of Healthcare Science and Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore 632014, India.ORCID 0000-0003-4160-4129
Inga WangDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences & Technology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-4553-7130
Jennifer BarberFroedtert Hospital, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.ORCID 0009-0004-2092-3328
Erin M McGonigle KetchumDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-9357-8930
Mohammad H RahmanDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-6370-8757

Funding

NIDILRR Switzer Research Fellowships 90SFGE0045-01-00
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Robot-assisted telerehabilitation (RAT) combines rehabilitation robotics with digital health workflows to extend access to upper-limb (UL) therapy after stroke. Mixed reality (MR) may support therapist-patient interaction and task visualization; however, early-stage systems require rigorous evaluation of safety and usability before deployment in the home. In a formative, mixed-methods usability study conducted in a controlled setting using a telerehabilitation workflow, six individuals post-stroke (≥3 months) and six occupational therapists (OTs) completed a single supervised session with a desktop-mounted end-effector type therapeutic robot (iTbot) integrated with Microsoft HoloLens 2. Participants performed structured passive and active UL exercises while therapists supervised and interacted with the system via the MR control interfaces. Safety was evaluated by documenting observed adverse events and safety-stop activations. Usability and user experience were assessed using the System Usability Scale (SUS), study-specific satisfaction questionnaires (reported with scale ranges), and semi-structured follow-up interviews analyzed using thematic analysis. All participants completed the session without observed adverse events or safety-stop activations. Overall usability was favorable, with a mean (SD) SUS total score of 78.3 (15.9) out of 100 (stroke: 74.2 [18.1]; occupational therapists: 82.5 [13.5]). Qualitative feedback indicated that MR was perceived as engaging and intuitive by many users, while also identifying implementation needs relevant to real-world telerehabilitation, including clearer onboarding, simplification of certain MR interactions, and improved physical interfaces (e.g., handle options). Therapists highlighted workflow considerations for remote supervision and patient independence. Together, these findings support progression to multi-session, in-home studies to quantify remote assistance needs, technical reliability, adherence, and clinical outcomes.

Indexed as

RoboticsStrokeStroke RehabilitationUpper ExtremityAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedTelerehabilitationdigital twinHoloLens 2Internet of Things (IoT)mixed-realitypost-strokerobot-assisted remote therapytelerehabilitation workflowupper-limb

Identifiers

PMID42197852
PMCPMC13210935

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Registered trials

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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.