Introducing SPINDLE, a pioneering robotic rehabilitation
system to enhance daily living activities for individuals with
tremor.
GWANGJU, South Korea, June 28,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tremors, or involuntary rhythmic
movements, severely impair an individual's ability to perform
everyday tasks, reducing their quality of life and independence. In
neurological rehabilitation, finding effective treatments is a key
goal, and tremor rehabilitation is particularly complex.
Addressing this challenge, a team of researchers at the Gwangju
Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) in Korea, led by
professor Jiyeon Kang, developed an
innovative robotic rehabilitation system to enhance the strength
and dexterity of individuals with tremors.
Their research, published on 23 April,
2024, in IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and
Rehabilitation Engineering, introduces the Spherical Parallel
INstrument for Daily Living Emulation (SPINDLE).
SPINDLE integrates robotics and virtual reality to enhance the
strength and dexterity of individuals with tremors, enabling them
to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) more efficiently.
Unlike traditional methods, SPINDLE simulates ADLs in a realistic
and adaptable environment, bridging the gap in replicating
real-world tasks' complexity. This innovative system promises to
transform rehabilitation for tremor patients, offering a new level
of support and effectiveness.
In this study, nine healthy participants were trained to use
SPINDLE with the aid of VR technology. Following this training
phase, the participants were subjected to simulated tremors and
asked to perform various ADL tasks, both with the SPINDLE system
and with natural objects. The team meticulously compared the
performance results from these tasks to evaluate the effectiveness
of the SPINDLE system.
The study revealed several significant benefits of using SPINDLE
for tremor rehabilitation. SPINDLE demonstrated joint mobility
equivalent to natural ADLs, ensuring practical applicability in
real-life scenarios. Participants experienced reduced muscle effort
and effective tremor suppression, which contributed to smoother and
more controlled movements. The system provides customizable optimal
damping, allowing for individualized resistance-based training
tailored to each participant's needs. The use of SPINDLE resulted
in improved motor control, coordination, and neuroplasticity, key
factors in effective neurological rehabilitation. Participants
showed notable improvements in upper limb strength and dexterity,
critical for performing daily activities.
"A standout feature of the SPINDLE system is its game-based
training paradigm, which allows for varying levels of resistance as
needed. This approach not only makes the therapy sessions engaging
and enjoyable but also significantly aids in improving the strength
and dexterity of individuals with tremors," explains Prof.
Kang. By integrating real-time visual feedback and interactive VR
elements, SPINDLE ensures sustained user motivation and more
effective training outcomes.
"SPINDLE has the potential to significantly improve the
quality of life for patients with neurological disorders by
focusing on complex ADLs that are difficult for other
rehabilitation robots. Its compact design allows for easy
integration with TV or VR systems, providing an engaging
environment to encourage adherence to rehabilitation programs,"
adds Prof. Kang.
The promising results from this study indicate that SPINDLE has
the potential to become a standard tool in tremor rehabilitation
programs. Beyond its immediate applications, the principles and
technologies developed through SPINDLE could extend to other areas,
such as sports training and injury prevention. Additionally, the
data collected from SPINDLE training sessions can provide valuable
insights into neuroplasticity and motor learning, paving the way
for more effective treatments for a wide range of neurological
disorders.
Reference
Title of original paper: Resist-as-Needed ADL Training With
SPINDLE for Patients With Tremor
Journal: IEEE Transactions On Neural Systems And
Rehabilitation Engineering
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/TNSRE.2024.3392615
About the
institute
https://www.gist.ac.kr/en/main.html
Media Contact:
Chang-Sung
Kang
82 62 715 6253
379757@email4pr.com
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SOURCE Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST)