Publisher's Synopsis
Millions of individuals experience impaired mobility usually accompanied by limited to no manual dexterity. The "cost" associated with these disabilities includes not only those incurred through medical and support services, but also less tangible costs, such as those due lost wages and non-productivity. The goals of rehabilitation are to ameliorate life-limiting disabilities and facilitate community re-entry. While restoration of function is the most positive outcome of rehabilitation, compensatory strategies are also employed when natural function cannot be restored. A particularly promising approach is the use of robotic assistive technologies to extend an individual's functionality and substitute for compromised functions.
