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Analysis of institutional authors

Contreras-Gonzalez, AfAuthorPont-Esteban, DAuthorCantalejo-Escobar, DAuthorSanchez-Uran, MaAuthorFerre, MCorresponding Author

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December 14, 2021
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Article

Validation of a Hybrid Exoskeleton for Upper Limb Rehabilitation. A Preliminary Study

Publicated to: Sensors. 21 (21): 7342- - 2021-11-01 21(21), DOI: 10.3390/s21217342

Authors:

Alguacil-Diego, Isabel-Maria; Cuesta-Gomez, Alicia; Contreras-Gonzalez, Aldo-Francisco; Pont-Esteban, David; Cantalejo-Escobar, David; Sanchez-Uran, Miguel Angel; Ferre, Manuel
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Affiliations

Univ Politecn Madrid, CAR, ETS Ingenieros Ind, UPM,CSIC, Calle Jose Gutierrez Abascal 2, E-28006 Madrid, Spain - Author
Univ Politecn Madrid, ETS Ingn & Diseno Ind, Ronda Valencia 3, E-28012 Madrid, Spain - Author
Univ Rey Juan Carlos, Physiotherapy Occupat Therapy Phys Med & Rehabil, Campus Alcorcon,Av Atenas S-N, Alcorcon 28922, Spain - Author
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Abstract

Recovery of therapeutic or functional ambulatory capacity in patients with rotator cuff injury is a primary goal of rehabilitation. Wearable powered exoskeletons allow patients to perform repetitive practice with large movements to maximize recovery, even immediately after the acute event. The aim of this paper is to describe the usability, acceptability and acceptance of a hybrid exoskeleton for upper-limb passive rehabilitation using the System Usability Scale (SUS) questionnaire. This equipment, called ExoFlex, is defined as a hybrid exoskeleton since it is made up of rigid and soft components. The exoskeleton mechanical description is presented along with its control system and the way motion is structured in rehabilitation sessions. Seven patients (six women and one man) have participated in the evaluation of this equipment, which are in the range of 50 to 79 years old. Preliminary evidence of the acceptance and usability by both patients and clinicians are very promising, obtaining an average score of 80.71 in the SUS test, as well as good results in a questionnaire that evaluates the clinicians' perceived usability of ExoFlex.
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Keywords

Acceptance testsAgedExoskeletonExoskeleton (rehabilitation)Exoskeleton (robotics)Exoskeleton deviceFemaleHumanHumansMaleMechanicalMiddle agedMovementMovement (physiology)Patient rehabilitationPerceived usabilityRehabilitationRigid componentsRobotRotator cuffRotator cuff injuriesSoft componentsStroke rehabilitationSystem usabilityUpper extremityUpper limbUpper limbsUpper-limbUpper-limb rehabilitationUsabilityUsability engineering

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Sensors due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency Scopus (SJR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2021, it was in position , thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Analytical Chemistry.

Independientemente del impacto esperado determinado por el canal de difusión, es importante destacar el impacto real observado de la propia aportación.

Según las diferentes agencias de indexación, el número de citas acumuladas por esta publicación hasta la fecha 2025-12-21:

  • WoS: 10
  • Scopus: 10
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Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-12-21:

  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 54 (PlumX).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
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Leadership analysis of institutional authors

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: Last Author (FERRE PEREZ, MANUEL).

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been FERRE PEREZ, MANUEL.

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Awards linked to the item

This work has been partially supported by the project "LUXBIT: Lightweight Upper limbs eXosuit for BImanual Task Enhancement" under RTI2018-094346-B-I00 grant, funded by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion y Universidades"and the "Programa Propio de I+D+i" of the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid.
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