The THERY robot, equipped with the UAG application, assists with gait training using forearm crutches

Applications of THERY UAG

The THERY UAG software application supports therapy for gait and mobility disorders following orthopedic surgery on the lower extremities, such as:

  • Hip TEP, knee TEP, femur fractures, etc.
  • Corrective osteotomies
  • Cartilage lesions, injuries to the musculoskeletal system, etc.

 

Advantages:

  • Commitment through fixed appointments for self-training with the robot
  • Correction recommendations during self-training
  • Quick return on investment starting at just about 2 hours of robot training per day
  • A study using our prototype demonstrated the following:
    - Improvement in walking speed*
    - 93% of participants who had undergone hip surgery would recommend robot-assisted training to their friends and relatives.**
    - After the training experience with the robot in the hospital, all patients would be willing to continue such training as part of their follow-up rehabilitation.**


    Sources: * “Mobile Robot-Based Gait Training after Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) Improves Walking in Biomechanical Gait Analysis” DOI:10.3390/jcm10112416, Mai 2021Journal of Clinical Medicine ** Meyer, S., Fricke, C., Robotisches Gangtraining bei Hüft-OPs in den Waldkliniken Eisenberg, SIBIS Institut für Sozial- und Technikforschung GmbH, Berlin, 2019

How gait training using forearm supports works with THERY UAG

Gaittraining with robot - procedure
  • A high-quality colour and depth camera captures patient gait at 30 frames/second
  • Generation of a skeleton model of the patient with a total of 32 joint and support points
  • Analysis of 18 different gait parameters, such as stride length, track width, upper body inclination, weight transfer etc.
  • Continuous analysis of movement sequences and detection of deviations from the desired movement sequence while the patient walks on crutches
  • Output of correction recommendations, the order of which is based on a prioritization protocol which has been determined and agreed upon by experts in the field of physiotherapy
robot training patient walking with robot

Preparation from the therapist's perspective

  • Creation of a patient profile in the therapy management system and assignment of training plans, training times, and an RFID chip
  • Print out the training times for the patients (optional)
  • Handing the transponder and a brief instruction guide on how to use the robot, along with the printed training times, to the patients

Preparation from the patient’s perspective

  • Review of the brief instruction guide
  • Review of the online tutorials on the robot before starting training
  • Patients do not require instruction on the robot from staff

Start of training

  • Log-in to the robot with an individual RFID chip before training
  • The robot recognizes the patient based on a photo

Training process

  • The patient follows the robot during the training session
  • The robot adapts to the patient’s walking speed (up to 0.8 m/s)
  • Audio-visual correction recommendations and positive feedback are provided in real time

End of training

  • The robot guides the patient back to the starting position
  • The patient receives a summary of the training results

After completion (optional)

  • Tracking of individual training results
  • Downloading of training results and uploading to the HIS