PURPOSE: the primary focus of this review was to find out the effectiveness of robotics in improving upper extremity functions among people with neurological problems in the arena of physical rehabilitation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two reviewers independently scrutinized the included studies. The selected studies underwent quality assessment by PEDro scale. Randomized controlled trial (RCT) having a score of 4 or more were included in the review. A search was conducted in PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, Embase, PROQUEST, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) and Google Scholar. RESULTS: A total of 202 studies were identified. After removal of duplication, inclusion and exclusion criteria's n = 23 studies were included in the review process. For analysis, only the primary outcome measures of the studies were taken into account. Studies finally included in analysis were n = 21. The included studies were 19 in stroke, 1 in cerebral palsy (CP), and 1 study in multiple sclerosis (MS). No RCTs were reportedly found in spinal cord injury, Parkinson and motor neuron disease. CONCLUSION: Studies related to stroke showed a clear definiteness in the improvement of upper extremity functions. Whereas on the contrary there still remains a need for quality trials in cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis to establish the efficacy of robotics in upper extremity rehabilitation.

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