Test of Playfulness with CP Kids

Single group

Playfulness in Children with Limited Motor Abilities when using a Robot

Rios AM, Adams K, Magill-Evans J, & Cook A

Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics (IPOP)

DOI: 10.3109/01942638.2015.1076559

Link to full text:https://era.library.ualberta.ca/files/8g84mq002/Rios%202016%20IPOP.pdf

Objective: For children with limited motor skills, how does robot play change playfulness?

Process: Four children with GMFCS levels IV or V played with Lego robot for 15 minutes twice a week for 14 weeks. The Test of Playfulness was applied at baseline, during intervention and at follow-up.

Findings: "Test of Playfulness scores of the four children with cerebral palsy significantly increased during the intervention compared with baseline."

Sensorimotor Robot Therapy: the Anklebot

Pilot study

Pediatric robotic rehabilitation: Current knowledge and future trends in treating children with sensorimotor impairments

Michmizos KP & Krebs HI

Neurorehabilitation (pre-press) DOI: 10.3233/NRE-171458

Link to abstract: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28505989

Objective: "As long as motor learning remains the major working hypothesis for sensorimotor rehabilitation, a well-designed robotic therapy… should follow the principles of motor learning, namely massed practice, cognitive engagement and functional relevance." Sensorimotor therapy is identified as three elements: discrete and rhythmic movements, and interaction with the environment.

Process: The application of the Pedi-Anklebot 'robot' is to target ankle movements and functional walking for children with motor disabilities. The authors use the games designed to treat reduced speed, strength, accuracy, co-ordination; and cognitive or perceptual difficulties. To provide comprehensive sensorimotor therapy, practice included discrete sub movements, rhythmic oscillations and practice with ground contact.

Conclusion: "To fully harness the therapeutic power of adaptation, we need to continue our research on the special characteristics of [the] sensorimotor control… on the differences between rhythmic and discrete movements, as well as mechanical impedance training."

Robots Learn to Play

Review

Robots Learn to Play: Robots Emerging Role in Pediatric Therapy

Howard AM

Proceedings of the 26th International Florida Artificial Intelligence Research Society Conference, 2013

Link to full text: www.aaai.org/ocs/index.php/FLAIRS/FLAIRS13/paper/view/5838/6033

Objective: Therapy for children includes play; at best, robots will express this quality as they are brought into the pediatric setting. Three types of robots are discussed in this article: robots (smart toys) that are operated by alternative inputs such as the smart phone, robotic orthoses that include an element of play, and autonomous robots that interact through play. In each case, examples are given.

Discussion:

1. ‘Robot’ or smart toys are considered here as toys which children can play with using an alternative means of manipulation. True smart toys possess some awareness of their surroundings and additionally require some degree of autonomy to meet the definition of robot.
2. Robotic orthoses or exoskeletons guide, limit and assist in motor movements of upper and lower extremities. Play can be incorporated into this therapy.
3. Autonomous robot toys which engage children with intentional, purposeful imitation play. "While typically developing children possess the ability to imitate others from birth, children with pervasive developmental disorders, such as autism, demonstrate significant difficulty in object and motor imitation. Imitation skills are thought to be closely related to early language and social abilities."

Conclusion:"It seems natural then that this research thread (autonomous robotic playmates capable of engaging children in shared manipulation-based play), along with … quantitative results… emerges as the next step in the domain of robots for pediatric therapy."