Sense and movement. Design of a system for sensorimotor rehabilitation after stroke.

Abstract

The paper presents the preliminary research for the development of a technologically advanced system that aims to introduce earlier treatment in the rehabilitative process of patients in a bedridden condition because of a stroke attack. After an overview on stroke and the principles of rehabilitation based on academic literature on biomedical engineering and neurosciences, the research focuses on the state of art of the rehabilitative instruments used to stimulate the brain: environment and interaction have a strong impact on daily experience in terms of cognitive response and ability to rewire the brain, therefore rehabilitation can be considered a particular experience that needs to be designed with attention to human factors. The paper gives an overview on the technologies in use and in the final section of the paper introduces the considerations and methodologies based on which a technologically advanced rehabilitative system will be developed.