Research advances in various fields of biomedical engineering made it possible for engineers to develop robotic
exoskeletons for rehabilitation. However, a low-cost device that can effectively increase upper extremity motor recovery
remains an issue to be addressed. This concern requires great focus especially for those who are in the developing regions where technological advances are usually impeded. In this paper, three (3) design criteria are presented in
developing a robotic exoskeleton for the rehabilitation of the upper extremities. First, designing for wearability which
mainly involves human factors and ergonomics influence comfort and accessibility to the device. Second, safety is
important factor in the design of a physical rehabilitation device. This criterion considers the hazards that may arise in
cases of device failure and how to prevent it. Third, design considerations for performance includes the functionality of individual components and other parameters that influence the desired outcome. The discussion of the trends and benefits towards developing a cost-effective rehabilitation system was also done to challenge researchers and developers. The adoption of this technology shall benefit a lot of stakeholders including those living in underdeveloped countries where access to cheaper healthcare options are still limited. This paper shall also serve as a call-to-action towards researchers to expand existing knowledge in this multidisciplinary field. And that it may promote the role of robotic devices in rehabilitation as the need to provide cheaper alternatives for motor therapy is still continuously rising