# Exercise Specialists’ Evaluation of Robot-Led Rehabilitative Exercise for People with Parkinson’s Disease

## TL;DR

Exercise specialists positively evaluated a robot-led exercise system for Parkinson's patients, noting its potential to improve engagement and consistency, but suggesting improvements in feedback and usability.

## Contribution

A pilot study evaluating exercise specialists' perceptions of a robot-led rehabilitative exercise system for Parkinson’s disease, highlighting acceptance and areas for improvement.

## Key findings

- Exercise specialists generally viewed the robot-led system as effective for augmenting traditional rehabilitative exercise.
- The system was seen as beneficial for enhancing patient engagement and providing consistent exercise support.
- Key areas for improvement included more human-like feedback and increased ease of use.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: Robot-led rehabilitative exercise offers a promising avenue to enhance the care provided by exercise specialists (ESs). ESs, such as physical and occupational therapists, prescribe exercise regimens to clinical populations to improve patients’ adherence to prescribed exercises outside the clinic, such as at home. Collaborative efforts among roboticists, clinical ESs, and patients are essential for developing interactive, personalized exercise systems that meet each stakeholder’s needs. This work builds upon research involving individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) that evaluated a robotic rehabilitative exercise system designed to address strength and flexibility deficits. Methods: To complement the findings of our previous work in people with PD (PWP), we conducted a pilot user study in which 11 ESs evaluated a novel robot-led exercise system for PWP, focusing on perceptions of the system’s efficacy and acceptance. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, including technology acceptance questionnaires, task load questionnaires, and inductively coded semi-structured interviews, we gathered comprehensive insights into ES perspectives and experiences after interacting with the system. Results: Findings reveal a broadly positive reception, which highlights the system’s capacity to augment traditional rehabilitative exercise for PD, enhance patient engagement, and ensure consistent exercise support. We also identified two key areas for improvement: incorporating more human-like feedback systems and increasing the robot’s ease of use. Conclusion: This research emphasizes the value of incorporating robotic assistants into rehabilitative exercise for PD, offering insights that can guide the development of more effective and user-friendly rehabilitation technologies.