Within RRD, we work on robotics to support rehabilitation medicine, such as robots for gait training and robotic devices to support arms and hands. We use our expertise in the area of motion analysis and the measurement of muscle activation to produce smart devices that correct or support the movements and position of the limbs when necessary.
One such example is our work on robots that assist people with spasticity or partial paralysis during gait training. Another is robotics that can support the arm and hand of elderly people to independently carry out daily activities.
Supporting technology
The technology used as assistive and training devices is becoming increasingly complex, while using such devices will eventually become commonplace. At RRD we investigate how a patient functions with and without these devices. This allows us to determine the optimum balance between technical possibilities, the clinical context, and the requirements and wishes of patients and therapists. This means that we sometimes conclude that a person would be better off with less advanced technology.
Our added value in this area is that we study the influence of various orthoses, prostheses and robotic systems on the patient’s movement. For example, in our own labs we can measure muscle activation in patients with and without support from an orthosis. In addition, we can analyse the movements of limbs with the help of video recordings, 3D motion analysis systems and ambulatory sensors. Our guiding principle is always to apply advanced technology as effectively and simply as possible for both the patient and the therapist. These applications also extend beyond the treatment centre to the patient’s home.
Projects
COVR – break down barriers collaborative robot safety
In a pan-European strategic effort to break down barriers around collaborative robot safety, five Research and Technology organizations across Europe have teamed up in a new initiative funded by the EU called COVR.
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eNHANCE – Improving and training arm and hand function
The eNHANCE project (Horizon 2020 project) is focusing on the development and testing of new concepts with regard to improving and training arm and hand function during daily life in individuals with physical disabilities. It includes a multimodal interface, user assessment and personalised support.
ironHand – Soft-robotic glove
Through the development of a soft-robotic glove (the ironHand), which gives support during the performance of daily activities, elderly and patients with diminished hand function not only experience support in force, but also de opportunity to train their hand function.
Evolutions – Timing of foot ortheses
Patients who experience drop foot as a consequence of a stroke are given an orthosis that positions the foot in the correct posture. However, what point in the treatment is the most adequate to provide such an orthosis? RRD performed comparative patient research to determine this.
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Other projects within this expertise
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Gerdienke is a human movement scientist, with a PhD in the evaluation of robotic devices for rehabilitation of the arm after stroke. As senior researcher, she currently leads the research topic on therapeutic rehabilitation technology (Active Therapeutic Devices), involving supervision of 4 PhD students. She coordinates and supervises multiple European and national projects, in particular regarding clinical evaluation, collaborating extensively with care organisations, technical universities and companies. Her research is focused on applying technology for improvement of arm and hand functionality in clinical practice or at home, evaluating its impact and understanding associated neurological and biomechanical working mechanisms.
Publications:
Nijenhuis SM, Prange-Lasonder GB, Stienen AHA, Rietman JS, Buurke JH (2017). Effects of training with a passive hand orthosis and games at home in chronic stroke: a pilot randomised controlled trial. Clinical Rehabilitation, 31(2), 207-216. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269215516629722
Radder B, Prange-Lasonder GB, Kottink AIR, Gaasbeek L, Holmberg J, Meyer T, Melendez-Calderon A, Ingvast J, Buurke JH, Rietman JS (2016). A wearable soft-robotic glove enables hand support in ADL and rehabilitation: a feasibility study on the assistive functionality. Journal of Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Engineering, 3(0), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1177/2055668316670553
Krabben T, Prange GB, Kobus HJ, Rietman JS, Buurke JH (2016). Application of the Teager Kaiser Energy Operator in an autonomous burst detector to create onset and offset profiles of forearm muscles during reach-to-grasp movements. Acta of Bioengineering and Biomechanics, 18(4), 135-144. https://doi.org/10.5277/ABB-00471-2015-02
Prange GB, Kottink AIR, Buurke JH, Eckhardt MMEM, van Keulen-Rouweler BJ, Ribbers G, Rietman JS (2015). The effect of arm support combined with rehabilitation games on upper extremity function in sub-acute stroke: a randomized controlled trial. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, 29(2), 174-182. https://doi.org/10.1177/1545968314535985
Kottink AIR, Prange GB, Krabben T, Rietman JS, Buurke JH (2014). Gaming and conventional exercises for improvement of arm function after stroke: a randomized controlled pilot study. Games for Health Journal, 3(3), 184-191. https://doi.org/10.1089/g4h.2014.0026
Erik is a clinical health scientist and physiotherapist. His PhD project focused on the influence of a microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee on gait adaptations after a transfemoral amputation or knee disarticulation. He obtained his PhD on December 8th 2016 at the University of Twente. He is currently setting up studies to evaluate the added value of assistive technology. In addition, he co-organizes and participates in multiple gait analysis courses that are given by Roessingh Research and Development. His research interests mainly include assistive rehabilitation technology and clinical gait analysis. Besides his work for RRD he is also the chairman of the Dutch Society for Rehabilitation Physiotherapists.
Publications:
Prinsen EC, Nederhand MJ, Sveinsdóttir HS, Prins MR, van der Meer F, Koopman HFJM, Rietman JS (2017). The influence of a user-adaptive prosthetic knee across varying walking speeds: a randomized cross-over trial. Gait & Posture, 51, 254-260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2016.11.015
Prinsen EC, Nederhand MJ, Rietman JS, Koopman HFJM (2015). Added value of a user-adaptive prosthetic knee in planned gait initiation: off to a good start? 2015 IEEE International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics (ICORR), 31-36. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICORR.2015.7281171