Robohip: Robotic Platform for Hippotherapy in Children with Disabilities

Abstract

The problems inherent to the intervention of animals in therapies are associated with risks that imply this interaction and the low capacity to carry out a quantitative assessment. This document aims to offer patients with motor, sensory and cognitive disabilities a different and safe treatment option. The approach to this problem uses a robotic platform divided into three systems, integrating elements for motor, cognitive and sensory rehabilitation: The first emulating the head and neck of the animal; the second emulating movements of rotation and translation of the horse’s back in the three axes (base); the third to calculate the force vector relating the distribution of the child’s weight, performing emulation of temperature ranging from 38 ºC to 42 ºC depending on the speed of work (seat), recording articular angles of the cervical region, thoracic cage, lumbar and hip; The patient is evaluated posturally, in-corporating a set of lights that make it easier to observe to which side the resulting force vector is directed, allowing him to modify his posture and improve his proprioception. The system comprises interaction of commands for the user so that he can develop new psychomotor skills and abilities. The data obtained can serve as indicators for the differential evaluation of each patient, as well as the possibility of monitoring variables such as Temperature, joint angles, and weight.