Skip to main content

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.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

If you have any doubt. Let me know

Popular posts from this blog

DID PLACEBO EFFECT WORKS?

what is placebo effect? It is a phenomenon in which some people experience a benefit after the administration of inactive substance. A placebo is a fake treatment that in some cases it can produce a realistic result. This depends upon the expectation of the patient,the more a paerson expects the treatment will work, it is more likely to respond. Things that will influence the placebo effect includes                                                                          The nature of illness The belief system of the patient during treatment The expectation of the patient if fulfilling The positive message from the doctor about treatment EFFECT ON HORMONES Taking the placebo tretament triggered the release of endorphins. Endorphins have a similar structure as morphine and other opiate painkillers and act as the brains own natural painkillers. Other possible things include conditioning , motivation and expectation. People who are highly motivated
2 comments
Read more

CAN YOU DIE FROM RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS(RA)?

WHAT IS RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS(RA)? Rheumatoid Arthritis(RA) is an autoimmune disease that can cause joint pain and damage throughout your body. It is a chronic disease marked by symptoms of inflammation and pain in the joints. It can also cause inflammation of organs such as the lungs, eyes, skin, and heart. There is no cure for RA, but medications can stop the progression of the disease  and ease symptoms. The  joint damage that RA causes usually happens on both sides of the body. Treatment is possible when RA is diagnosed early. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS The sign and symptoms of RA come and go, depending upon the degree of inflammation. When the body tissues are inflammed, the disease is active and when the tissue inflammation subsides the disease is inactive. THE SIGN AND SYMPTOMS INCLUDE; Fatigue low grade fever muscle and joint pain joint tenderness joint deformity loss of energy rheumatoid nodules loss of joint function limping stiffness Muscle and joint stiffness are usually seen in the
2 comments
Read more

DID FABIFLU IS THE MEDICINE OF COVID-19 ?

Fabiflu in COVID-19  As we know the vaccine is still a long distance away and no sign of the coronavirus infections slowing down in the country , homegrown pharmaceutical companies have been given permission to launch generic versions of Remdesivir and Favipiravir , anti-viral drugs that have shown promise in treating Covid-19 patients. Glenmark pharmaceuticles has launched favipiravir under the brand name FabiFlu for treatment of mild to moderate cases of Covid-19 , cipla and hetero labs have received approvals from the Drug Controller General of India to launch generic versions of Remedesivir under the names Cipremi and Covifor respectively. While medical experts have cautioned against seeing these potential drugs as a "magic bullet" against the deadly virus , they can be helpful in reducing the viral load as India continues to post new record highs in infection on a daily basis. Remedesivir and Favipiravir are two of the 130 under experimentation drugs worldwide to treat c
1 comment
Read more