North America and Caribbean region: Canada

Stroke is a leading cause of disability in Canada. Effective rehabilitation requires individualized care, with interdisciplinary clinical teams providing in-person and remote therapy. However, Canada has a vast geography, with many small publicly funded healthcare centers serving remote communities. Advanced robotic rehabilitation systems have the potential to make a significant impact in stroke rehabilitation across the country, with their ability to tailor treatment to unique patient characteristics and enable or enhance remote therapy options. Significant research is dedicated to the development of teleoperated robots, autonomous collaborative robots, and wearable mechatronic devices; however, most technologies are still at the laboratory stage, requiring further work to improve comfort and responsiveness. Additional studies demonstrating the benefits of rehabilitation robotics are also needed. As such, researchers continue to explore how to integrate clinical practice and research efforts to improve patient outcomes.