• The effect of robot-assisted t...

*Result*: The effect of robot-assisted training on burn rehabilitation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Title:
The effect of robot-assisted training on burn rehabilitation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Authors:
Huang D; College of Physical Education, Jiangxi University of Technology, Nanchang, China., Zheng Y; College of Physical Education, Jiangxi University of Technology, Nanchang, China., Xu M; College of Physical Education, Jiangxi University of Technology, Nanchang, China., Huang W; College of Physical Education, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, China. Electronic address: wenying@jxnu.edu.cn.
Source:
Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries [Burns] 2026 Feb; Vol. 52 (1), pp. 107786. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Nov 17.
Publication Type:
Journal Article; Systematic Review; Meta-Analysis
Language:
English
Journal Info:
Publisher: Elsevier Country of Publication: Netherlands NLM ID: 8913178 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1879-1409 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 03054179 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Burns Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s):
Publication: Amsterdam : Elsevier
Original Publication: [Guildford, Surrey, UK] : Butterworths, [c1989-
MeSH Terms:
Burns*/rehabilitation , Exercise Therapy*/methods , Robotics*, Humans ; Hand Strength ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Contributed Indexing:
Keywords: Burns; Functional recovery; Gait training; Meta-analysis; Rehabilitation robotics
Entry Date(s):
Date Created: 20251126 Date Completed: 20260114 Latest Revision: 20260126
Update Code:
20260130
DOI:
10.1016/j.burns.2025.107786
PMID:
41297240
Database:
MEDLINE

*Further Information*

*Objective: This study aimed to systematically evaluate the efficacy of robot-assisted training (RAT) in improving the physical rehabilitation outcomes of burn patients and to establish a clinical basis for its broader application.
Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the use of RAT in burns rehabilitation were searched from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wan Fang Data (WanFang), and Chinese BioMedical Literature Database (CBM) databases (as of March 18, 2025). The quality of the study was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Analyses were performed using RevMan 5.3, and data that could not be synthesized were presented in a descriptive manner.
Results: Nine RCTs, involving 531 patients, were included. RAT significantly improved hand grip strength (MD=1.2, 95 % CI: 0.21-2.19, p = 0.02) and lower limb 6-minute walking distance (6MWT: MD=73.06, 95 % CI: 1.18-144.93, p = 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) scores (MD=0.4, 95 % CI: -0.09-0.9, p = 0.11) or pain reduction (MD=0.29, 95 % CI: -0.22-0.8, p = 0.26). The certainty of all the evidence was shown to be very low. Multiple descriptive statistical analysis highlighted RAT's superiority in enhancing finger mobility, hand dexterity, and select gait parameters.
Conclusions: Our systematic review suggests that incorporating RAT into conventional physiotherapy may offer some benefits for the functional rehabilitation of upper and lower limbs in burn patients; however, the certainty of the evidence supporting this recommendation is very low. Consequently, high-quality research is required to validate the efficacy of RAT in future studies.
(Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)*

*Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.*