ABSTRACT
A growing interest in Socially Assistive Robotics in Physical Rehabilitation is currently observed; some of the benefits highlight the capability of a social robot to support and assist rehabilitation procedures. This paper presents a perception study that aimed to evaluate clinicians' and patients' perception of a social robot that will be integrated as part of Lokomat therapy. A total of 88 participants were surveyed, employing an online questionnaire based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). The participants belong to two health care institutions located in different countries (Colombia and Spain). The results showed an overall positive perception of the social robot (>60% of participants have a positive acceptance). Furthermore, a difference depending on the nature of the user (clinician vs. patient) was found.
ABSTRACT
COVID-19 pandemic has affected the population worldwide, evidencing new challenges and opportunities for several kinds of emergent and existing technologies. Social Assistive Robotics could be a potential tool to support clinical care areas, promoting physical distancing, and reducing the contagion rate. In this context, this paper presents a long-term evaluation of a social robotic platform for gait neurorehabilitation. The robot's primary roles are monitoring physiological progress and promoting social interaction with human distancing during the sessions. A clinical validation with ten patients during 15 sessions were conducted in a rehabilitation center located in Colombia. Results showed that the robot's support improves the patients' physiological progress by reducing their unhealthy spinal posture time, with positive acceptance. 65% of patients described the platform as helpful and secure. Regarding the robot's role within the therapy, the health care staff agreed (>95%) that this tool can promote physical distancing and it is highly useful to support neurorehabilitation throughout the pandemic. These outcomes suggest the benefits of this tool to be further implemented in the pandemic.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The Lokomat® robotic therapy is proposed as a new alternative for the rehabilitation of gait in patients with neurological disorders of central origin. Objective: To describe the effect of the Lokomat® in speed, gait pattern, postural stability, third party assistance, and the need of technical aids for gait in a group of patients with neurological disorders in the Institute Teletón Santiago between April 2008 and June 2009. Patients and Methods: 77 medical records of patients in the Lokomat® program were selected. These included patients with cerebral palsy (CP), stroke (CVA), traumatic brain injury (TBI) and ataxic syndrome. The patients had an average age of 16.2 years (range 4.65 to 25.98 years). Results are evaluated pre and post training measuring gait speed(10 meters test), gait pattern (visual scale of Edinburgh), postural stability and transfers (timed up and go test), third party assistance (functional ambulation categories - FAC) and gait functionality (functional mobility scale- FMS). The Wilcoxon test was applied to measure changes before and after with p < 0.05. Results: Significant changes were observed in all tests in the group of subjects with CP (p < 0.001) after orthopedic surgery and in speed and gait pattern in CP patients after onabotulinum toxin A infiltration. In patients with TBI and stroke changes in gait pattern and functional tests were evident (p < 0.05). In ataxic subjects improvement in postural stability and transfers were recorded (p < 0.01).Conclusions: The Lokomat® robotic orthosis is a useful tool in improving gait related parameters in the neurological diseases analyzed, especially in CP patients after orthopedic surgery.
Introducción: La terapia robotizada con Lokomat® se plantea como una nueva alternativa para la rehabilitación de la marcha en pacientes con patologías neurológicas de origen central. Objetivo: Describir el efecto del Lokomat® en velocidad, patrón de marcha, estabilidad postural, asistencia por terceros, necesidad de ayudas técnicas en la marcha en un grupo de pacientes portadores de patologías neurológicas del Instituto Teletón de Santiago, entre abril-2008 y junio-2009. Pacientes y Métodos: Se seleccionan 77 fichas médicas de pacientes del programa Lokomat®, portadores de parálisis cerebral (PC), accidente vascular encefálico (AVE), traumatismo encéfalo craneano (TEC) y síndrome atáxico, con edad media de 16,2 años (rango 4,65-25,98 años). Se evalúan resultados pre y post entrenamiento en velocidad de marcha (test de 10 metros), patrón de marcha (escala visual de Edimburgo), estabilidad postural y transferencias (test timed up and go), asistencia de terceros (categoría funcional de la marcha) y funcionalidad en la marcha (escala de marcha o movilidad funcional). Se aplica test de Wilcoxon para medir los cambios antes-después con p < 0,05. Resultados: Se observaron cambios significativos en todas las pruebas en el grupo de sujetos con PC postcirugía ortopédica (p < 0,001) y en velocidad y patrón de marcha en el grupo post infiltración con onabotulinumtoxinA. En pacientes con TEC y AVE se evidenciaron cambios en el patrón de marcha y en los test funcionales (p < 0,05). En sujetos atáxicos se registró mejoría en estabilidad postural y transferencias (p < 0,01). Conclusiones: La órtesis robótica Lokomat® es una herramienta útil en la mejoría de parámetros vinculados a la marcha en las patologías neurológicas analizadas, especialmente en el grupo de PC post cirugía ortopédica, donde todos los test registraron mejoras significativas.