| Popis: |
Gait rehabilitation is a multidisciplinary process that requires the participation and experience of several specialities. Robot-assisted physical rehabilitation, which has a strong component of gait rehabilitation, provides considerable advantages over conventional therapies regarding patient’s motor control, balance, and cardiovascular parameters. However, it is believed that the inclusion of a cognitive approach in these rehabilitation therapies can bring even more benefits to the patients and all other personals involved. Socially Assistive Robotics (SAR) has been used in the last years as a tool to incorporate these cognitive aspects in physical rehabilitation (PR) processes. This chapter explores the basic concepts of social robotics and its role in PR, through the explanation and development of Patient–Robot interfaces. A case study of a robot-assisted PR with Lokomat presents the promising results of including SAR in gait rehabilitation, by improving patient’s motivation, engagement, and overall performance. |
