Future of Rehabilitation Robotics Research and Practice?
Arun Jayaraman PT
Abstract : Rehabilitation robotics, specifically robotic exoskeletons is an area of research that has gained substantial attention in recent times. Currently, there exists a void between the research evidence from engineering groups and clinical teams on the predicated utility and actual usability of wearable robotic systems. My talk will discuss how engineering and clinical science can be combined and performed simultaneously and sequentially to both gain insight into the clinical utility of wearable robots to specific clinical populations and understand the needed continued adaptations in the hardware and controller mechanisms of these devices when they are used in disabled populations who struggle with differential muscle weakness, range of motion limitations, cognitive disabilities, variable balance and altered neuromotor control.
Bio : Arun Jayaraman PT is the Director, Max Nader Center for Rehabilitation Technologies & Outcomes Research at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. He is also an Associate Professor at Departments of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy & Human Movement Sciences at Northwestern University. Dr. Jayaraman’s group is a clinical lab that develops and executes both industry-sponsored and investigator-initiated research in prosthetics, rehabilitation robotics, and other assistive and adaptive technologies to treat physical disability. The lab conducts all its outcome research using advanced wearable patient monitoring wireless sensors and machine learning techniques in addition to the traditional outcome measures.
