Robotics exoskeleton for shoulder rehabilitation
Researchers at the Universidad Polytécnica de Madrid (UPM) have designed an intelligent robotic system to improve the recovery of patients with shoulder injuries.
A team from the Centre for Automation and Robotics (CAR, UPM-CSIC) has developed a robotic exoskeleton that performs rehabilitation therapies of patients with shoulder injuries more efficiently. Using strength and motion sensors, the system can assess the degree of an injury and its evolution as the treatment progresses.
Rehabilitation therapies performed by intelligent robotic systems have been shown to reduce patients’ recovery time; however, there are very few robotic systems for recovery of shoulder injuries. The CAR researchers have developed a robotic exoskeleton which, in addition to lessening recovery time after injury, assesses and registers the progress of the entire rehabilitation process.
According to lead researcher Cecilia García Cena, simulating the skeletal system is not enough to develop an exoskeleton, it is also necessary to incorporate both the kinematics and dynamics of a complete model that takes into account the skeletal system, muscles, tendons and ligaments.
The new exoskeleton is inexpensive, easy to use and can be adapted to suit any patient. The team hope it will relieve overburdened rehabilitation units, with consequent savings for the healthcare system.
Source: Universidad Polytécnica de Madrid
