Pulsed assistance: A new paradigm of robot training

Dalia De Santis, Lorenzo Masia, Pietro Morasso, Valentina Squeri, Jacopo Zenzeri, Maura Casadio, Psiche Giannoni, Assunta Riva

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this preliminary study we compare continuous with pulsed robot assistance in five chronic stroke survivors with a mild degree of spasticity, with the aim of promoting volitional effort and reducing assistance during a reaching task. The protocol consists of one familiarization session and a single training session during which a manipulandum provides subjects with pulsed or continuous assistance in random order. The basic level of assistive force is calibrated for each subject and is the same for both modalities; however, the average force during continuous assistance is about twice the average force in pulsed assistance. In spite of this, the results show that pulsed assistance allows subjects to reach similar performance levels as compared to continuous assistance after a single training session. Moreover, we introduce a novel kinematic-based measure to assess voluntary participation of subjects during the rehabilitation task, which is only applicable with pulsed assistance.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2013 IEEE 13th International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics, ICORR 2013
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013
Externally publishedYes
Event2013 IEEE 13th International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics, ICORR 2013 - Seattle, WA, United States
Duration: 24 Jun 201326 Jun 2013

Publication series

NameIEEE International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics
ISSN (Print)1945-7898
ISSN (Electronic)1945-7901

Conference

Conference2013 IEEE 13th International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics, ICORR 2013
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySeattle, WA
Period24/06/1326/06/13

Keywords

  • pulsed assistance
  • robot therapy
  • stroke survivors

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