Title: Do Robotics Really Help in Parkinson’s Rehabilitation? Meta-Analysis Reveals Modest Gains
Authors: Ana Leticia Fornari Caprara, Jamir Pitton Rissardo, and Ian M. Walker
Conference: 2026 MDS-PAS, Houston, TX
Objective
To evaluate the effects of robot‑assisted rehabilitation on motor symptoms and functional mobility in Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Background
Robotic technologies are increasingly used to enhance gait and balance training in PD, but their clinical benefit remains uncertain.
Design/Methods
Randomized controlled trials comparing robot‑assisted versus conventional therapy in PD were analyzed. Outcomes (ON‑medication) included UPDRS‑III, UPDRS‑Total, Timed Up and Go (TUG), 6‑Minute Walk Test (6‑MWT), 10‑Meter Walk Test (10‑MWT), and Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Pooled mean differences (MD) or standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using random‑effects models; heterogeneity was assessed with I2.
Results
Robot‑assisted training demonstrated limited to modest effects compared with controls. For UPDRS‑III (ON), the pooled MD was 0.35 (95% CI –1.06 to 1.76; I² = 0%), indicating no significant motor benefit. UPDRS‑Total (ON) favored robotics with an MD of –3.72 (95% CI –5.65 to –1.79; I² = 30%), suggesting a small but statistically significant improvement in overall motor disability. Functional outcomes showed mixed results: TUG had a SMD of 0.13 (95% CI –0.14 to 0.41; I² = 55%), and 10‑MWT showed an SMD of 0.24 (95% CI –0.05 to 0.53; I² = 84%), both indicating small, non‑significant gains with moderate to high heterogeneity. 6‑MWT effects (SMD 0.07; 95% CI –0.24 to 0.38; I² = 91%) and BBS changes (MD 0.45; 95% CI –0.36 to 1.26; I² = 0%) were non-significant.
Conclusions
Robot-assisted rehabilitation provides a small but significant improvement in UPDRS-Total, while showing no meaningful effect on UPDRS-III or functional outcomes (TUG, 6-MWT, 10-MWT, BBS). High heterogeneity in gait measures suggests variability in devices, protocols, and patient characteristics.
Citation
Caprara ALF, Rissardo JP, Walker I. Do Robotics Really Help in Parkinson’s Rehabilitation? Meta-Analysis Reveals Modest Gains. Mov Disord Clin Pract 2026;13(S1):S100–S101. doi: 10.1002/mdc3.7047.
Figure 1. Forest plots showing pooled effects of robotic rehabilitation on UPDRS‑III (ON), UPDRS‑Total (ON), TUG, 6‑MWT, 10‑MWT, and BBS outcomes.