NAO Robot in Pediatric Occupational Therapy

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a non-progressive neurological disorder that affects movement and posture, often impairing upper extremity function and daily activity performance. Technological tools, such as social robots, have shown promise in supporting rehabilitation. This study investigated the effects of NAO robot-assisted therapy on functional performance, motivation, and emotional states in children with unilateral CP. Sixteen children participated in a 14-week intervention, which included 12 weeks of task-oriented therapy. In six of those weeks, sessions incorporated the NAO robot, which simulated three daily activities identified using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) and offered motivational feedback. Emotional responses were tracked using the Empatica E4 wristband, measuring blood volume pulse (BVP), electrodermal activity (EDA), and skin temperature (ST).

NCT Number	NCT07283211
Lead Sponsor	Ankara Medipol University Collaborators: Medipol University, Yeditepe University
Conditions	Cerebral Palsy (CP), Activities of Daily Living
Enrollment	15 participants
Start Date	2024-01-02
Primary Completion	2024-07-02 (estimated)
Study Completion	2025-06-02 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-01-23