A Case Study on the Current Status and Prospects of Robotic Rehabilitation

Toshiaki Tanaka

robotic rehabilitation, robot suit, gait training, motion analysis.

The use of robots in rehabilitation (robotic rehabilitation) is a relatively recent development and a growing field that is rapidly penetrating clinical practice. Against this background, various assistive robots reflecting the application of engineering technology have recently been developed and widely used in the field of rehabilitation in order to realize a prosperous and long-lived society that supports the independence of the elderly and disabled. This paper describes the current status of robotic rehabilitation and discusses the challenges faced in this field by presenting case reports. The purpose of the case study was to analyze the suit and body movements while wearing the robotic suit. The subjects were four healthy individuals, and the criteria for selecting the subjects were that they had not fallen in the past year, had not suffered serious pain or musculoskeletal or nervous system injuries, and were not taking medications that could impair balance. Motion analysis was performed to determine the discrepancy between the joint motions of the robotic suit and those of the human subjects when they walked normally while wearing the robotic suit. The results showed that misalignment at the knee and ankle joints was greater when the control by the robotic suit was weak. Finally, the author discusses how medical staff should approach the use of robots in clinical practice.

https://doi.org/10.31871/IJNTR.10.4.6