Presentation
CANCELED - Tell Me! Occupational Therapist's Perspective on Human-Robotic Interaction
SessionPoster Session 1
DescriptionTopic
This study explores how occupational therapy (OT) graduate students and practitioners perceive the clinical use of upper-limb robotic assistive devices for rehabilitation. By analyzing survey data on participants’ familiarity, perceived benefits, and reported challenges with robotic devices. Based on these findings, the study proposes design recommendations to advance human-robotic interaction (HRI) in clinical rehabilitation.
Application
The primary aim of the project is to explore occupational therapists’ prior knowledge, perceptions, implementation, and implications of the use of upper-limb robotic device integration in rehabilitation. The survey developed for the purpose of the study captures both quantitative and qualitative data, which provides insights into how both OT students and practitioners view the inclusion of robotics in their daily workflow. This research will serve as a voice representing occupational therapists during the design of robotic devices for upper limb rehabilitation.
Background
Upper limb rehabilitation is a critical component of recovery for patients with impairments resulting from conditions such as stroke or injury. Traditional occupational therapy methods in hospital environments rely on manual exercises and therapist-guided activities (Chuchnowska et al., 2025; Sledziewski et al., 2012). Current research is exploring how the use of robotic systems offers opportunities to create more inclusive, personalized, and precise therapy (Vu et al., 2025). However, the introduction of robotic devices into clinical practice poses barriers to acceptance and adaptability. Due to most research evaluating engineering and clinical practicality, little is known about the primary end-users and collaborators of these systems, which are occupational therapists (Bourassa et al., 2023; Larsen et al., 2023).
This study addresses this gap by surveying OT graduate students and practitioners in the United States regarding the use of upper limb robots for rehabilitation. The goal of this study is to gain insight into the background and experience occupational therapists have with robotic devices, as well as to explore perspectives on the potential benefits, challenges, and conflicts. Additionally, the study seeks to collect recommendations for how upper limb rehabilitation robots could be integrated into OT practice. The results will be design recommendations and human-centric rehabilitation tasks to enhance future robotic designs for upper-limb rehabilitation.
Presentation Overview
This study seeks to gain input from OT graduate students and practitioners’ perspectives on the inclusion of HRI within upper limb rehabilitation. The study has four main areas of interest developed from conversations with subject matter experts in occupational therapy, mechanical engineering, and human factors: 1. Demographics of both OT graduate students and practitioners, 2. Familiarity with robotic devices, 3. Perception of robotic assistive devices in the OT setting, and 4. Input into robotics and upper limb rehabilitation.
In total, 49 voluntary participants responded. 46 participants responded to the survey, and 16 participants fully completed the survey. The analysis is conducted based on the participants’ group; Practitioners (n=3), Students (n=13). 1. Demographics will highlight who made up the 16 responses, most importantly highlighting their expertise, education, and practice levels. 2. Familiarity with robotic devices lets us gain an understanding of what different robotic devices the participants have had exposure to while capturing experience levels. 3. Perception of robotic devices will show where and why the inclusion of robotic devices would prove beneficial or problematic to occupational therapists, leading to insights that directly impact what type of robotic devices would be desired and why. 4. Upper-Limb Rehabilitation will review which clinical scenarios would benefit from robotics or not, and why. This study will also review how ready OT’s feel for the inclusion of robotic devices. Importantly, this section also goes over how OT responds to a demonstration video of a 3D Robotic Pen & Robotic Arm, to gain their subjective open feedback on usability, applicability, and potential integration. After this, the study discusses relevant design considerations for future devices with the OT perspective in mind as the collaborator by using both quantitative patterns and qualitative justifications.
Takeaway Points
This study collects and summarizes occupational therapists' perspectives on integrating human-robotic interaction into their everyday workflow. By capturing demographics, familiarity, perception, and input, we seek to make design recommendations that highlight the importance of the collaborator when robotics is used in upper limb rehabilitation.
References
Bourassa, J., Faieta, J., Bouffard, J., & Routhier, F. (2023). Wheelchair-Mounted Robotic Arms:
A Survey of Occupational Therapists’ Practices and Perspectives. Disability and
Rehabilitation. Assistive Technology, 18(8), 1421–1430.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2021.2017030
Chuchnowska, I., Mikulska, J., Burkacki, M., Chmura, M., Chrzan, M., Kalinowski, J., Suchoń,
S., Ples, M., Sobiech, M., Szaflik, P., Zadoń, H., & Watoła, B. (2025). Comparative
Analysis of Passive Movement During Robot-Assisted and Therapist-Led Rehabilitation
Exercises. Sensors, 25(17), 5334. https://doi.org/10.3390/s25175334
Larsen, S. M., Brandt, Å., Hounsgaard, L., & Kristensen, H. K. (2023). Occupational Therapists’
Perspectives on an Evidence-Based, Client-Centered Assistive Technology Intervention.
The British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 86(5), 376–384.
https://doi.org/10.1177/03080226221148409
Sledziewski, L., Schaaf, R. C., & Mount, J. (2012). Use of Robotics in Spinal Cord Injury: A
Case Report. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 66(1), 51–58.
https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2012.000943
Vu, K., Catalano, J., Holder, Z., Sam, D., Khalifeh, A., Luo, Y., Qiu, Y., Chang, M., & Jiang, L.
(2025). Enhancing Upper Limb Rehabilitation in Hospital Occupational Therapy Using a
Machine Learning Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) Platform Integrated with Real-time
Visual Feedback. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Human Factors and
Ergonomics in Health Care, 14(1), 128-132. https://doi.org/10.1177/2327857925141030
This study explores how occupational therapy (OT) graduate students and practitioners perceive the clinical use of upper-limb robotic assistive devices for rehabilitation. By analyzing survey data on participants’ familiarity, perceived benefits, and reported challenges with robotic devices. Based on these findings, the study proposes design recommendations to advance human-robotic interaction (HRI) in clinical rehabilitation.
Application
The primary aim of the project is to explore occupational therapists’ prior knowledge, perceptions, implementation, and implications of the use of upper-limb robotic device integration in rehabilitation. The survey developed for the purpose of the study captures both quantitative and qualitative data, which provides insights into how both OT students and practitioners view the inclusion of robotics in their daily workflow. This research will serve as a voice representing occupational therapists during the design of robotic devices for upper limb rehabilitation.
Background
Upper limb rehabilitation is a critical component of recovery for patients with impairments resulting from conditions such as stroke or injury. Traditional occupational therapy methods in hospital environments rely on manual exercises and therapist-guided activities (Chuchnowska et al., 2025; Sledziewski et al., 2012). Current research is exploring how the use of robotic systems offers opportunities to create more inclusive, personalized, and precise therapy (Vu et al., 2025). However, the introduction of robotic devices into clinical practice poses barriers to acceptance and adaptability. Due to most research evaluating engineering and clinical practicality, little is known about the primary end-users and collaborators of these systems, which are occupational therapists (Bourassa et al., 2023; Larsen et al., 2023).
This study addresses this gap by surveying OT graduate students and practitioners in the United States regarding the use of upper limb robots for rehabilitation. The goal of this study is to gain insight into the background and experience occupational therapists have with robotic devices, as well as to explore perspectives on the potential benefits, challenges, and conflicts. Additionally, the study seeks to collect recommendations for how upper limb rehabilitation robots could be integrated into OT practice. The results will be design recommendations and human-centric rehabilitation tasks to enhance future robotic designs for upper-limb rehabilitation.
Presentation Overview
This study seeks to gain input from OT graduate students and practitioners’ perspectives on the inclusion of HRI within upper limb rehabilitation. The study has four main areas of interest developed from conversations with subject matter experts in occupational therapy, mechanical engineering, and human factors: 1. Demographics of both OT graduate students and practitioners, 2. Familiarity with robotic devices, 3. Perception of robotic assistive devices in the OT setting, and 4. Input into robotics and upper limb rehabilitation.
In total, 49 voluntary participants responded. 46 participants responded to the survey, and 16 participants fully completed the survey. The analysis is conducted based on the participants’ group; Practitioners (n=3), Students (n=13). 1. Demographics will highlight who made up the 16 responses, most importantly highlighting their expertise, education, and practice levels. 2. Familiarity with robotic devices lets us gain an understanding of what different robotic devices the participants have had exposure to while capturing experience levels. 3. Perception of robotic devices will show where and why the inclusion of robotic devices would prove beneficial or problematic to occupational therapists, leading to insights that directly impact what type of robotic devices would be desired and why. 4. Upper-Limb Rehabilitation will review which clinical scenarios would benefit from robotics or not, and why. This study will also review how ready OT’s feel for the inclusion of robotic devices. Importantly, this section also goes over how OT responds to a demonstration video of a 3D Robotic Pen & Robotic Arm, to gain their subjective open feedback on usability, applicability, and potential integration. After this, the study discusses relevant design considerations for future devices with the OT perspective in mind as the collaborator by using both quantitative patterns and qualitative justifications.
Takeaway Points
This study collects and summarizes occupational therapists' perspectives on integrating human-robotic interaction into their everyday workflow. By capturing demographics, familiarity, perception, and input, we seek to make design recommendations that highlight the importance of the collaborator when robotics is used in upper limb rehabilitation.
References
Bourassa, J., Faieta, J., Bouffard, J., & Routhier, F. (2023). Wheelchair-Mounted Robotic Arms:
A Survey of Occupational Therapists’ Practices and Perspectives. Disability and
Rehabilitation. Assistive Technology, 18(8), 1421–1430.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2021.2017030
Chuchnowska, I., Mikulska, J., Burkacki, M., Chmura, M., Chrzan, M., Kalinowski, J., Suchoń,
S., Ples, M., Sobiech, M., Szaflik, P., Zadoń, H., & Watoła, B. (2025). Comparative
Analysis of Passive Movement During Robot-Assisted and Therapist-Led Rehabilitation
Exercises. Sensors, 25(17), 5334. https://doi.org/10.3390/s25175334
Larsen, S. M., Brandt, Å., Hounsgaard, L., & Kristensen, H. K. (2023). Occupational Therapists’
Perspectives on an Evidence-Based, Client-Centered Assistive Technology Intervention.
The British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 86(5), 376–384.
https://doi.org/10.1177/03080226221148409
Sledziewski, L., Schaaf, R. C., & Mount, J. (2012). Use of Robotics in Spinal Cord Injury: A
Case Report. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 66(1), 51–58.
https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2012.000943
Vu, K., Catalano, J., Holder, Z., Sam, D., Khalifeh, A., Luo, Y., Qiu, Y., Chang, M., & Jiang, L.
(2025). Enhancing Upper Limb Rehabilitation in Hospital Occupational Therapy Using a
Machine Learning Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) Platform Integrated with Real-time
Visual Feedback. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Human Factors and
Ergonomics in Health Care, 14(1), 128-132. https://doi.org/10.1177/2327857925141030
Event Type
Poster Presentation
TimeMonday, March 234:45pm - 6:15pm EDT
LocationRhinelander Gallery
Hospital Environments