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Design and Validation of an Exoskeleton for Hand Rehabilitation in Adult Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract:

For the outcomes achieved in this study, it was considered the previous research carried out for the design and creation of a functional prototype of a hand exoskeleton for the rehabilitation of older adults with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) using Rapid Prototyping (RP) technologies. The results of each research allowed continuing a line of development until reaching the creation of a portable hand exoskeleton based on an adapted exo-glove that allows the self-supported flexion-extension of the fingers with some opposing tension and facilitates the management of the rehabilitation processes through medical/therapeutic exercises that contribute to reduce the pain caused by the disease. The degree of usability of the system presented considers a user-centered approach, therefore a methodology was designed for the validation of the ARTH-aid System ExoGlove, involving a generic group of 30 patients and an expert group of physiotherapists from an elderly care home in Quito, Ecuador.