Rehabilitation robotics is a special branch of robotics which focuses on machines that can be used to help people recover from severe physical trauma. Rehabilitation robotics is just beginning to make serious inroads in the world of physical therapy, but already the results are miraculous in many cases. The field of rehabilitation robotics is one obvious direction for robotics to take, as machines become more affordable and their ability to autonomously aid human beings increases.

There are three main areas of physical therapy: cardiopulmonary, neurological, and musculoskeletal. Cardiopulmonary therapy helps to treat breathing problems such as asthma and to rehabilitate those who have undergone cardiac trauma. Neurological therapy mostly aims to help restore muscle control or to help foster muscle control in those born with little or none. Musculoskeletal therapy assists in strengthening and restoring functionality in the muscle groups and the skeleton, and in improving coordination. Though rehabilitation robotics has applications in all three areas of physical therapy, most of the work and development is focused on musculoskeletal uses of robotics.

One exciting new tool for physical therapy that has come out of the field of rehabilitation robotics is the robotic exoskeleton. The most promising exoskeleton being used in rehabilitation robotics is the LOPES, which stands for Lower-extremity Powered Exoskeleton. The LOPES is intended to help people regain lost motor control, such as that often seen after a serious stroke. A robotic exoskeleton allows rehabilitation to occur with only one therapist, with the robot providing support and tempering the patient's gait. A robotic exoskeleton also allows for a more consistent training regimen, with the robot tracking a patient's progress and shifting the stress level accordingly, or making recommendations to the human therapist in charge.

The future of rehabilitation robotics is very exciting, with a number of technologies in development which promise even more efficient and groundbreaking results. As the technology develops, so too do prices decrease, making rehabilitation robotics a possibility for people at every income level.