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Robotic innovation delivers relief for back pain sufferers

 The future of precise personalized robotic physiotherapy

An innovation that automates the diagnosis and treatment of chronic back pain could bring benefits to millions of patients, increase work productivity and provide therapists with a time saving tool.



Back pain, a musculoskeletal disorder, is the leading cause of disability worldwide. It is also the most common reason that people visit their doctor and take time off work.

Even though back pain is extremely common, there are no established guidelines or protocols when it comes to diagnosis, says ADAMO Robot project coordinator Carlos Jimenez , managing director at Adamo Robot in Spain.

Diagnosis also tends to be subjective , and the success of treatments, which often involve massage sessions, depend a lot on the quality of the therapist. People also have different thresholds, which makes it difficult to assess the evolution of the condition.

Automated back therapy

 Spanish firm Adamo Robot has sought to address these challenges and make physiotherapy accessible to all. Our aim is not to replace therapists , but to improve their productivity.

TO achieve this, a fully automated unmanned physiotherapy robot has been developed. Using Artificial Intelligence (AI), the robot identifies effective treatments and tracks the condition of the patients.

The robot begins by exploring the body with 3D thermal vision, identifying hot and cold spots. It then applies AI to detect the type of back injury and define necessary treatments.

If treatment is necessary , the robot has a six axis robotic arm, capable of articulated movements. Instead of touching the patient however , therapy is applied by releasing compressed air. While some people might feel comforted by the placebo effect of hand treatment, contactless treatment is more hygienic.

Physiotherapy for all 

The researchers are currently working towards developing a fully autonomous robot , capable of conducting independent sessions without a physical intervention of  a physiotherapist.

To this end, the EU funded project has enabled us to define our technological plan explains Jimenez.
We have also been able to optimize the mechanical design and prepare for mass production. From a technical point of view, the temperature of the compressed air has been adjusted to make patients feel more comfortable.

The project also helped the form to understand which markets are open to adoption. We performed a study to understand the cost of physiotherapy , the availability of physiotherapists as well as whether there were objections towards using our technology notes Jimenez

Feedback from patients and physiotherapists has been very positive. Patient reported that the treatment was unexpectedly painless.

The Covid 19 pandemic has resulted in an increased need to treat people coming out of intensive care units (ICUs). Adamos contactless robot has been shown to help muscle rehabilitation, while at the same time protect healthcare workers. 

Ultimately the company believes that its innovation will provide greater access to physiotherapy to those who need it , helping to address one of the leading cause of chronic pain and disability.
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