NCT07283211

NAO Robot in Pediatric Occupational Therapy

Using a NAO Robot to Enhance Occupational Therapy for Children With Cerebral Palsy

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 15 (actual)
• Sponsor: Ankara Medipol University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 5 Years – 15 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

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).

Detailed description

This single-group interventional study investigated the effect of adding the social humanoid robot NAO to occupational therapy sessions on upper extremity function, hand skills, and motivation in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (CP). Sixteen children aged 5-15 years, classified as GMFCS I-III, MACS 1-3, CFCS 1-2, and MAS 0-2, participated. The study consisted of two sequential 6-week phases: Phase 1: Routine occupational therapy sessions (40 minutes each). Phase 2: Routine occupational therapy supplemented with NAO robot-assisted activities (same duration). Sessions targeted functional tasks identified using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), such as eating, throwing a ball, and brushing teeth. Upper extremity function was assessed with the Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test (QUEST); functional abilities with PEDI; activity limitations and bimanual hand use with GMFCS and BFMF; and occupational performance and satisfaction with COPM. Physiological signals (blood volume pulse, electrodermal activity, and skin temperature) were recorded using the Empatica E4 wristband to assess children's motivation and emotional responses during sessions. Data were analyzed using appropriate statistical methods, including t-tests, Mann-Whitney U, Friedman test, and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests with Bonferroni correction.

Conditions

• Cerebral Palsy (CP)
• Activities of Daily Living

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Occupational Therapy Intervention	Routine Occupational Therapy. Participants receive standard occupational therapy sessions delivered by a licensed pediatric occupational therapist. Sessions include individualized therapeutic activities targeting fine motor skills, bilateral coordination, sensory processing, activities of daily living (ADL) training, and play-based functional tasks.
OTHER	NAO Robot-Assisted Occupational Therapy	NAO Robot-Assisted Occupational Therapy. Participants receive the same core occupational therapy program as in Phase 1, supplemented with robot-mediated interaction using the NAO humanoid robot (SoftBank Robotics).

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-01-02
• Primary completion: 2024-07-02
• Completion: 2025-06-02
• First posted: 2025-12-15
• Last updated: 2026-01-23

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)