Rehab

Northwestern professors design robots to help with physical therapy

Rehab Regs, September 16, 2005

Two Northwestern University professors have designed a robot to help people in physical therapy recover quicker, reports the Chicago Sun-Times. The robot is designed to help patients with walking and balance problems by catching a person before he or she falls. The two robotics professors teamed up with a local physical therapist to create a time-saving robot for therapists. The robot is wired with sensors that send feedback to the machine's wheels, which then adjust velocity and direction to allow a patient to move freely until needing support. Initial tests show patients strapped to the robot can speed up recovery by trying exercises they would typically be too afraid of falling during to try.

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