'Robotic Physiotherapist' Could Treat Patients And Cut Waiting Times

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'Robotic Physiotherapist' Could Treat Patients And Cut Waiting Times

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=63187

A robotic system to treat physiotherapy patients with lower limb

problems could lead to a decrease in waiting lists and the ability

for patients to be treated outside of clinics.

The prototype NeXOS system can be instructed to remember and repeat

specific limb movements which have been programmed by a

physiotherapist. This removes the need for the physiotherapist to

manipulate the patient's limbs manually, so that they would not need

to be present when the exercises were taking place.

It is also possible to alter the range of movement, speed,

resistance, and amount of exercises, ensuring that each programme is

individually tailored to the patient's needs.

NeXOS remotely feeds information directly back to the

physiotherapist, so they could monitor their patient's progress from

another location, and could even adapt the exercise programme

remotely.

This opens up the possibility for patients to be treated with the

system in non-clinical settings such as their own homes, gyms and

sports centres.

The project is the result of a collaboration between Sheffield

Hallam University, the University of Sheffield, Barnsley Teaching

Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Abertay Dundee.

Dr Sue Mawson, from the Centre for Heath and Social Care Research at

Sheffield Hallam University and one of the research physiotherapists

involved in developing the system explains, " The NeXOS system needs

to be trialled clinically, but offers the potential for

physiotherapists to effectively treat more patients. It requires the

expertise of a physiotherapy professional to assess the patients

needs, programme the exercises and to analyse the data to check its

effectiveness, but takes away the need for all treatment to be

conducted face-to-face, in one-to-one sessions.

" This system is also good news for patients as it will allow them to

schedule their therapy more easily to fit in with their lives,

rather than having to meet appointment times with therapists. It

will also cut waiting times for treatment.

" The beauty of the system is that the therapist would be able to

monitor progress, adapt the programme remotely, and to easily assess

when a patient needs a follow-up session face-to-face. " Further

research is planned on ways in which therapists could use the

technology more effectively either as a teaching tool for e-learning

or as an adjunct to rehabilitation.