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Researchers are developing a smart” walker that evaluates patient movements to improve rehabilitation
Researchers at the University of Malaga, in collaboration with the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, have developed a “smart” walker that evaluates patient movements to improve rehabilitation. With this system, based on a standard model called Walk-IT, professionals receive better information on the progress of patients being treated, allowing them to serve a larger number of users with more accurate assessments. In rehabilitation treatments, therapists must evaluate a variety of information about progress during the exercises to be performed by patients, such as: B. whether an improvement in walking speed is achieved, whether the gait is symmetrical or whether there is partial loading. So far this information has been provided by…
Researchers are developing a smart” walker that evaluates patient movements to improve rehabilitation
Researchers at the University of Malaga, in collaboration with the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, have developed a “smart” walker that evaluates patient movements to improve rehabilitation. With this system, based on a standard model called Walk-IT, professionals receive better information on the progress of patients being treated, allowing them to serve a larger number of users with more accurate assessments.
In rehabilitation treatments, therapists must evaluate a variety of information about progress during the exercises to be performed by patients, such as: B. whether an improvement in walking speed is achieved, whether the gait is symmetrical or whether there is partial loading.
Until now, this information has been recorded manually by professionals, requiring direct observation of their movements. Although rollators are available with factory-installed modules, they are too expensive for mass use in all clinics. In addition, the installation of additional components increases their weight, which influences the gait and changes the actual gait results.
With traditional systems, therapists can only assess the progress of one person at a time. However, the Walk-IT model, as the experts call it, makes it possible to carry out the exercises at the same time and to automatically record the data and evaluate it for later advice. This reduces the attention required from professionals as they do not have to spend time collecting this relevant information during the course of treatment. This novel system is described in the article “Walk-IT: An Open-Source Modular Low-Cost Smart Rollator,” published in the journal Sensors.
Additionally, both the physical designs included (the hardware) and the programs used (the software) are open source licensed, significantly reducing costs and enabling wide implementation. The system is available for viewing and downloading at https://github.com/TaISLab/WalKit.
Rollators that monitor movements are rare on the market today; they are made to measure and cost between 3,000 and 9,000 euros, depending on the module. “The possibility of adding new observation elements to a standard walker using inexpensive equipment and free software makes it an ideal option for use in any rehabilitation clinic and reduces the price to about 500 euros,” said Joaquín Ballesteros, one of the Fundación Descubre authors of the article.
In addition to a control system, the researchers have supplemented the conventional rollator with additional devices. First, they attached strain gauges to the handles to measure the support applied to each handle while walking. Encoders are also included on the rollator's rear wheels to measure the user's speed and estimate stride length. Finally, they placed a laser sensor that detects foot movements, gait phases or nearby obstacles.
Improve step by step
Until now, a model belonging to the Polytechnic University of Barcelona was used and could not be modified. This means that the hardware was installed ex works and could not be expanded or adjusted. The experts thus recognized the need to create a system that can be modulated according to the needs of each individual and that is completely unrestricted, with the aim of reducing costs and allowing direct application.
In this way, the researchers started from a walker that is commonly used in rehabilitation clinics and does not require modification, and added modules that measure various parameters necessary to monitor patients, such as cadence, walking speed or time, and stride length. In addition, the system can directly measure the rollator position, speed and applied forces.
The experts have confirmed that the data from 11 patients undergoing treatment is consistent with and even improves the accuracy of data collected by therapists using the traditional method. The only disadvantage is that a view of the patient's legs is required for adequate observation by the laser, since, for example, the data is not adequately recorded when wearing long skirts.
The researchers intend to continue the experiments with the aim of providing further benefits to institutions interested in efficient implementation in society. In particular, they propose studies with different types of disabilities in hospitals and nursing homes in order to validate their results and adapt them for use in further cases.
This work is funded by the project “SAVIA: Sistema de Autonomía Variable para movIlidad Asistida” (“Variable Autonomy System for Assisted Mobility”) of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and the University of Malaga.
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