Robotic technology and physical medicine and rehabilitation.

In this opinion piece, I will revisit the basis for our belief that robotic manipulation is a valid approach to promote speedier and better recovery following a stroke and discuss some of the clinical evidence that led to the September 2010 guidelines for stroke care of the American Heart Association as well as the December 2010 guidelines of the Veterans Administration endorsing the use of robotic technology for the upper extremity (UE) but not for the lower extremity (LE) post-stroke rehabilitation effort.