A robotic system to treat physiotherapy patients with lower limb problems could lead to a decrease in waiting lists and the ability for patients to be treated outside of clinics.
The prototype NeXOS system can be instructed to remember and repeat specific limb movements which have been programmed by a physiotherapist. This removes the need for the physiotherapist to manipulate the patient's limbs manually, so that they would not need to be present when the exercises were taking place.
It is also possible to alter the range of movement, speed, resistance, and amount of exercises, ensuring that each programme is individually tailored to the patient's needs.
NeXOS remotely feeds information directly back to the physiotherapist, so they could monitor their patient's progress from another location, and could even adapt the exercise programme remotely.
This opens up the possibility for patients to be treated with the system in non-clinical settings such as their own homes, gyms and sports centres.
The project is the result of a collaboration between Sheffield Hallam University, the University of Sheffield, Barnsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Abertay Dundee.