Summary Summary Short summary of a recent publication, written by scientific experts. Published: 27 Mar 2023

Soft robotic wearables aids in arm mobility in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

  • People suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) often have difficulty raising their arms owing to weakened muscles that impairs physical function.
  • This study tested a light weight soft robotic wearable (150 grams to each upper limb) in 10 individuals living with ALS and varying levels of neuromuscular impairment. Two individuals showed immediate improvements in arm mobility over 6 months. This assistive technology also improved functional activity without training, thus allowing continuation of basic activities associated with daily living.  
  • According to the authors, soft robotic wearable technology is successful in restoring arm function in people with ALS and may provide an avenue for designing other robotic technology to assist with physical impairments.