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ArticleInternational medical case reports journal2026

Robot-Assisted Physical Exercise in Acutely Hospitalised Geriatric Patients: Insights From the ROBUST RCT - A Case Report.

Ann Sophia Bertelsen, Jesper Ryg, Tahir Masud, Charlotte Suetta, Lisbeth Rosenbek Minet

Registry-linked trialAbstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in International medical case reports journal, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT05782855 (ROBot Assisted Physical Training of Older Patients During acUte hospitaliSaTion), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT05782855 naactive not recruitingnot on this map

ROBot Assisted Physical Training of Older Patients During acUte hospitaliSaTion (ROBUST) - a Randomised Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorOdense University HospitalRan2023 to 2026Enrolled488ConditionsFunctional Decline, ADL, Physical Inactivity, Acute IllnessArmsActive Robot assisted physical training during acute hospitalisation, Passive Robot assisted physical training during acute hospitalisation
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Ann Sophia BertelsenGeriatric Research Unit, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.ORCID 0000-0003-3158-7898
Jesper RygGeriatric Research Unit, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.ORCID 0000-0002-8641-3062
Tahir MasudGeriatric Research Unit, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
Charlotte SuettaDepartment of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Lisbeth Rosenbek MinetGeriatric Research Unit, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction and Purpose: Hospitalised older patients are at high risk of functional decline due to prolonged inactivity. Gerontechnology, including robot-assisted physical exercise, may support early mobilisation, but its use in acute hospital settings remains underexplored. This case report provides an in-depth insight into robot-assisted physical exercise in an older patient admitted to a geriatric department, reflecting the clinical setting of geriatric care during acute hospitalisation and highlighting real-world challenges related to engagement and adherence. Method and Materials: As part of an ongoing randomised controlled trial (RCT), this case report includes a 98-year-old woman randomised to active robot-assisted physical exercise. The intervention was offered twice daily during hospital stay. A structured, semi-guided interview was conducted at discharge to explore the patient's experiences, motivation, and perceived impact of the exercise. This report presents a detailed description of the intervention including exercise, progression, adherence and the patient's experience. Results: The patient described the exercise as engaging, mood-lifting, and beneficial. However, fatigue impacted adherence, resulting in 50% adherence. Functionally, the patient demonstrated increased independence, reflected by an improvement in Barthel Index (0-100, higher scores indicate greater independence) from 57 at admission to 69 at discharge. Chair stand test performance did not change. Conclusion: Based on this single case, robot-assisted physical exercise was positively perceived, even by a frail, hospitalised older patient. However, fluctuating energy levels highlight the need for flexible, patient-centred strategies. This case provides early insight into feasibility, motivation, and real-world adherence, contributing to understanding how robotic rehabilitation may support early mobilisation. Further evidence from the ongoing RCT will clarify its effectiveness in improving outcomes in this population. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05782855.

Indexed as

acute hospitalisationCase reportgeriatricsrobot-assisted physical exercise

Identifiers

PMID41867392
PMCPMC13005221

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.