The field of research dedicated to extending rehabilitation through the deployment of robotic devices is called rehabilitation robotics. The purpose of rehabilitation is to repair some or all physical, sensory, and mental disabilities of patients caused by injury or illness. Robotic rehabilitation is prescribed for patients suffering from several types of injury, illness, or disease, including cancer, amputations, arthritis, cardiac disease, orthopedic injuries, neurological problems, stroke, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries. Patients with severe paresis can be provided with passive movement of the upper limb, through robotic rehabilitation. For patients with some movement capacity, robots can support the weight of the limb in contrast to gravity, owing to the physical interaction between the robot and the subject.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2016, around 200,000 people suffered from spinal cord injury in the U.S. and the annual incidence rate is estimated at 15-40 new cases per million people, accounting for around 12,000 to 20,000 new cases per year. Growing geriatric population and growing prevalence of conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, spinal cord injury, dementia, cerebral palsy, and other age-related disabilities play a major role in driving growth of the global market for robotic rehabilitation. The geriatric population is highly susceptible to falls and injury thus, requiring constant assistance. This, in turn, is expected to fuel growth of the rehabilitation robots market.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 52.5 million adults in the U.S. suffered from arthritis i.e. around 23% of the total adult population, in 2013. This number is expected to grow over the forecast period, in turn creating a highly conducive environment for growth of the global rehabilitation robots market.

High cost of rehabilitation robotic devices is one of the major factors that are restraining growth of the market, especially in low and medium-income countries

Rehabilitation Robots Market- Regional Analysis

North America holds the largest market share due to high prevalence of spinal cord injuries in the region. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, 236,000 - 327,000 people suffered from serious spinal cord injuries in the U.S., in 2015. This increasing demand for rehabilitation robots in the region is met major government investments to aid in research and development of such robots. This in turn, is expected to boost growth of the market over the forecast period. The Asia Pacific region is projected to exhibit the highest CAGR over the forecast period, owing to rampant development in healthcare infrastructure and growing prevalence of chronic diseases such as arthritis, orthopedic injuries, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries, in the region.

Rehabilitation Robots Market- Competitive Landscape

Key players operating in the global rehabilitation robots market include AlterG, InMotion Robotics, Ekso Bionics, Myomo Inc., Hocoma AG, Chatanoonga, Patterson, and Interactive Motion Technologies (BioNik)

Key development

In November 2019, Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) has launched a new rehabilitation robot ‘Welwalk WW-2000’, a, designed to provide support to individuals with lower limb paralysis.
In May 2019, ReWalk Robotics, Ltd., a manufacturer of robotic medical devices received CE mark approval, for selling its product ‘ReStore Exo-Suit’ to rehabilitation clinics in the European Union. The product ‘ReStore Exo-Suit’ is designed to be used during walk rehabilitation therapy for individuals recovering from stroke.
In June 2019, ReWalk Robotics, Ltd., received U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance (FDA) for its product ‘ReStore Exo-Suit’ the first soft robotic system for stroke therapy.
In January 2019, BIONIK Laboratories Corp., a pioneering healthcare company launched newest generation ‘InMotion ARM/HAND’ robotic system for the clinical rehabilitation of stroke patients.
In October 2018, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has developed ‘mobile exo-neuro-musculo-skeleton’ robotic arm for self-help mobile rehabilitation for stroke patients.

Rehabilitation Robots Market- taxonomy

The global rehabilitation robots market is segmented on the basis of product type, end user and region.

By Product Type