Rehabilitation Robotics in Pediatrics: Building a Robot to Encourage Home Exercise

Friday, November 11, 2022

11:00 AM – 12:15 PM

Presenter(s)

Sarah H. Evans, MD, Professor, Clinical Pediatrics and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Chief, Rehabilitation Medicine
Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Slides Slides and Audio
Catherine Coley, PT, DPT, C/NDT, Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy

Pediatric Physical Therapist
Childrens National Hospital
Falls Church, Virginia, United States
MS

Manon M. Schladen, PhD

Principal Investigator
The Catholic University of America
Annapolis, Maryland, United States

The use of robots is increasing in the delivery of pediatric rehabilitation. With the rapid explosion in the use of telehealth for therapy necessitated but the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for tools to be able to deliver therapy remotely has been highlighted. We discuss the development of a robot combined with a gamefied therapy system to increase strength, range of motion and control of the foot across the ankle joint. We will present data concerning compliance of use, physical changes and human factors associated with the use of such a tool. We will discuss our iterative process as we modified our robot, and the information that informed our choices.

Learning Objectives:

Discuss the theories of and the evidence supporting rehabilitation robotics
Summarize the role of rehabilitative robotic platforms in pediatrics.
Outline a feasibility/efficacy study to assess the use of a rehabilitation robot
Prioritize goals/specifications of design to make use of a robotic platform successful in the home setting.
Discuss the human factors that shape compliance with a home exercise program (HEP)