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Robot-assisted therapy versus usual occupational therapy for arm function after neck spinal cord injury

Compares robot-assisted and usual hand therapy in adults with cervical spinal cord injury.

Key facts

Who runs it
Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil
Where
Nottwil, SwitzerlandSee the site
Trial code
Registry title
Robot-assisted vs. Conventional Occupational Therapy of the Upper Limb in Individuals With Cervical Spinal Cord Injury
Status
Recruiting
People taking part
40 people, planned
Started
1 Feb 2025
Expected to end
Dec 2027
Type of study
Interventional, 2 groups
Treatments tested
  • Unilateral robot-assisted therapy (RT)
  • Unilateral conventional occupational therapy (OT)
Record updated
8 July 2026

Who can take part

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for adults with a recent neck-level spinal cord injury and reduced arm or hand function. They must be in first rehabilitation at the Swiss Paraplegic Centre (SPC).

Age
18 Years and older
Sex
All sexes
Disease stage
Spinal cord injury in the neck (traumatic or non-traumatic), more than 16 days and up to 81 days after the injury. Injury level C1-T1, AIS grade A-D.
Earlier treatment
Must be in primary rehabilitation at the Swiss Paraplegic Centre (SPC).
Biomarker or test result
GRASSP-QtG score below 25 on one side at the start (a test of arm and hand function).

Main reasons for not taking part

  • Severe other nerve disease, or a nerve disease that gets worse over time
  • Arm or hand problems caused by damage to nerves outside the spinal cord
  • Bone or joint limits of the arm
  • Medical reasons that rule out using the ArmeoSpring device
  • Taking part in another treatment trial

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 15 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • Informed Consent signed by the subject
  • Intermediate (>16 days and ≤81 days post-injury) traumatic or non-traumatic cSCI during primary rehabilitation at the Swiss Paraplegic Centre (SPC)
  • Neurological level of injury: C1-T1
  • American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS): A-D
  • Impairment of upper limb function (GRASSP-QtG score unilateral < 25 at baseline t0)
  • Ability to sit for 60 minutes and perform training with ArmeoSpring
  • Stratification parameters available

Who cannot take part

  • Severe concomitant neurological disease
  • Concomitant neurodegenerative or progressive diseases
  • Severe concurrent medical disease or any other issue that in the opinion of the investigator would confound the results
  • Impairment of upper limb function due to peripheral nerve lesions
  • Inability to follow the procedures of the investigation
  • Orthopedic limitations of the upper limb
  • Device specific contraindications
  • Participation in other interventional trials

Where in Switzerland

  • Swiss Paraplegic CentreNottwil, SwitzerlandContact: Mario Widmer, Dr. sc. ETHTaking people

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn the effects of robot-assisted therapy using the ArmeoSpring on upper limb function compared to conventional occupational therpay in individuals with cervical spinal cord injury (cSCI). The main questions it aims to answer are:

Read full original descriptionShow less

- Which of the two forms of therapy, robot-assisted therapy or conventional occupational therapy, is more effective in terms of improving arm and hand function?

The study is designed as a cross-over trial, which means that each participant will receive both therapy forms consecutively, whereas the order is assigned randomly (either robot-assisted therapy first and then occupational therapy, or vice versa).

In addition to their clinical routine therapy , participants will:

* complete a baseline assessment * practice one therapy form (either robot-assisted or occupational therapy) with one arm for 6 weeks (3 x 30 min per week) * complete a intermediate assessment * practice the other therapy form (either occupational or robot-assisted therapy) with one arm for 6 weeks (3 x 30 min per week) * complete a post assessment * complete a follow-up assessment (if the post assessment was completed prior to 150 days post-injury)

The 2 groups in the trial

  • RT-OTTreatment being tested

    A stratified randomisation procedure will be used to allocate the sequence with either RT followed by OT or vice versa. The participants will performe unilateral robot-asssited therapy for 3 x 30 minutes per week for 6 weeks first, and then the unilateral conventional occupational therapy also for 3 x 30 minutes per week for 6 weeks.

    Treatment: Unilateral robot-assisted therapy (RT) and Unilateral conventional occupational therapy (OT)

  • OT-RTTreatment being tested

    A stratified randomisation procedure will be used to allocate the sequence with either OT followed by RT or vice versa. The participants will perform unilateral conventional occupational therapy for 3 x 30 minutes per week for 6 weeks first, and then unilateral robot-assisted therapy also for 3 x 30 minutes per week for 6 weeks.

    Treatment: Unilateral robot-assisted therapy (RT) and Unilateral conventional occupational therapy (OT)

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

Print a page for my doctor

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Official title
Robot-assisted vs. Conventional Occupational Therapy of the Upper Limb in Individuals With Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: The Armeo X-over Trial
Plain-language title
Robot-assisted therapy versus usual occupational therapy for arm function after neck spinal cord injuryGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 14 November 2026.
Record updated
8 July 2026