OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of Armeo robotic therapy, compared to conventional therapy, on upper extremity function in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. DESIGN: Thirty children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, with ages ranging from 6 to 8 years, were selected for this randomized controlled study and randomly assigned to two groups. The study group (n = 15) received 12 weeks of Armeo robotic therapy (45 min/session, 3 days/week) and the control group (n = 15) received conventional therapy for the same time period. The measured outcomes were the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and the Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test (QUEST), measured at baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention. RESULTS: Children in the study group showed significant improvement in the mean values of all the measured variables, compared to those in the control group (p < 0.05). Post-intervention MAS scores for the study and control groups were 1.6 (0.3) and 2 (0.5), respectively. Post-interventional QUEST total scores for the study and control groups were 84.6 (2.7) and 79.1 (2), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Armeo robotic therapy is significantly more effective than conventional therapy in improving the upper extremity quality of movement in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.

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