Performance based upper extremity training : A pilot study evaluation with the GENTLE/A rehabilitation system

Abstract

Robots as rehabilitative devices are increasingly utilised in research in this area given their capability to offer repetitive task-oriented training and potentials to augment therapies with more interactive mediums. Various parameters recorded by these rehabilitation robotic devices could inform the therapists about the recovery and thereby allow them to tailor the training according to the performance of the patient. The GENTLE/A rehabilitation system uses the parameters recorded by the HapticMaster robot to identify the leading/lagging performance of the user interacting with the system. Using these performance indicators we proposed a performance based training algorithm that was evaluated during this pilot study with healthy participants. The algorithm could successfully adapt the task difficulty level by altering the resistance offered to the movement of the user. This performance based training algorithm could be enhanced in future to offer isokinetic training. Isokinetic training can identify weak muscle groups and help the therapists recommend a rehabilitation programme for targeted muscle-groups.