Modular platform for haptic guidance in paediatric rehabilitation of upper limb neuromuscular disabilities

Abstract

In this paper, we present a haptic guidance platform to support physical rehabilitation of neuromuscular disabilities, providing a solution to the problem of the increasing demand of neuromuscular therapy in overcrowded facilities with deficit of rehabilitation professionals. The platform, characterized by a portable modular architecture, can be configured according to the treatment suggested by the physician, for instance, a Local Haptic Guidance configuration for patients requiring a continuous repetition of coordinated movements to recover, or improve, motor skills, and, a Remotely- Assisted Haptic Guidance for a direct intervention of the therapist, evaluating and stimulating, simultaneously, the neuromuscular condition of the patient. We also include some preliminary results when it is applied to treat two paediatric cases of congenital disease: Hemiparesis and Myelomeningocele.