Publication: A comparative study on the impact of robot-assisted lower limb rehabilitation on work-related musculoskeletal disorders among physiotherapists.
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Date
2024-07-10
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Abstract
This study investigates how robot-assisted lower limb rehabilitation affects WMSDs among physiotherapists. The study aimed to evaluate WMSDs risks associated with conventional rehabilitation tasks through ergonomic and biomechanical analysis and to assess the effectiveness of collaborative robots in mitigating these risks. Physiotherapists are susceptible to WMSDs because of the physical demands of manual rehabilitation exercises, particularly for stroke patients. By conducting a lab test and utilizing the AMS for musculoskeletal modelling and simulation, we analysed the lumbar loads and postures of simulated physiotherapists during passive ROM exercises. Six individuals were recruited to perform a series of four passive ROM exercises, i.e., dorsiflexion and plantar flexion, hip abduction and adduction, hip flexion, as well as knee flexion and extension, in both baseline and intervention studies with the UR16e Robot. The subjects are required to wear the Xsens MoCap system, and the entire experiment is carried out on the Bertec Force Plates. Then, the kinematic data and force data were input into AMS software, and a dynamic biomechanical model was constructed to quantify the shear force (AP, ML) and compression force (PD) acting on all lumbar disc levels (L1-L2 to L5-S1). The findings revealed significant lumbar loads and high-risk postures exceeding recommended limits, indicating an elevated risk of lower back injuries. REBA scores also depicted the medium to high risk associated with passive ROM activities due to repetitively awkward posture. However, the introduction of a UR16e Robot notably reduced lumbar loads and improved postural ergonomics in most ROM activities, demonstrating the potential of robot-assisted rehabilitation to mitigate WMSDs risks. Hip abduction and adduction, hip flexion, and knee flexion and extension are statistically significant at the 90% confidence level after the interventions (p < 0.10). The study underscores the importance of integrating assistive robots in rehabilitation to enhance the safety and well-being of physiotherapists, promoting a sustainable and injury-free work environment. Further investigation with a randomized clinical trial is suggested for a better evaluation of WMSDs risk factors and prevalence among physiotherapists.