Introduction: The involvement of two progressive technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, has created a huge difference in medical science. Recently therapeutic care, specifically rehabilitative care is also taking the advantage of these two high-end technologies to deliver better treatment with a satisfactory outcome.
American Society of Hand Therapists ( ASHT) don’t need any further introduction to hand therapists. It is an organization comprising licensed occupational and physical therapists, specialized in the treatment and rehabilitation of the upper extremity. Recently we participated in ASHT conference and got overwhelming responses from therapists. It was great to learn about upcoming technologies and how therapists are making use of them in their daily practices. Participation in the ASHT conference was a real milestone that we have achieved in 2022 and we got the opportunity to enrich our knowledge from eminent hand therapists.
In this article we’ll love to share about the technological advancements that we learnt can help hand therapy to reach its excellence. Let’s start with the introduction of both the technologies:
Artificial intelligence: AI is the stimulation of human intelligence processes by machines or specifically say computer system.
Robotics: The main objective of robotics technology is to design and automate a machine in such a way that can assist human in their daily jobs.
Robots were previously used in the manufacturing industry to accomplish repetitive tasks with high accuracy. But now, healthcare industries also use this technology to reach a high accuracy level and save time. It is because pre-programmed robots can relieve medical professionals from mundane hectic tasks. Therefore they can devote their time in diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation.
But to make robots more human-friendly, scientists integrate artificial intelligence into it. The combination is also known as robotic intelligence. Now robotics is exclusively operating with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence for human-friendly outputs. The skillful integration of artificial intelligence in robotics makes it eligible to perceive potent stimuli of human behavior, which is really a great success indeed. Artificial intelligence inculcates necessary functions, including spatial relations, computer vision, motion control, and grasping ability in robots to make them understand and work on the unseen situation.
The Amalgamation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Robotics Improves Rehabilitative Care
The combination of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence makes rehabilitative treatment with Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and hand therapy more precise and provides measurable feedback on progress by analyzing small movements of the targeted area, which can’t be seen through naked eye. Robotic technology monitors about 1000 micro-movements per session, which is almost 1600% greater than traditional human therapy.
In physiotherapy, every ounce of movement is important, but human eyes can’t track each movement.In this case, robotic technology works as a panacea. It can track the smallest movements through its advanced analyzing power.
We must consider the importance of the human element in healthcare because emotional support from a caregiver to a patient is not replaceable. However, when Rehab care therapists work in tandem with artificial intelligence and robotics, they can provide the best treatment to their patients and track their progress in real-time. It means the treatment becomes measurable and personalized according to the patients’ response.
Isn’t it a better way to treat your patients? What is your opinion about that?
When progress is measurable, it drastically enhances the patient-compliance rate and brings extraordinary results.
Now Let's See How AI-Enabled Robotics Works; Have Your Eye on Conjugal Functionality.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the ability to acclimatize altering requirements with time. This technology usually learns from experience and intuition. Thus, it has become an emerging technology in the medical field. Now the healthcare industry is almost incomplete without this top-notch technology. Almost all wireless wearable devices are based on AI & these devices have countless contributions to rehabilitative care programs.
However, with time, technology has become progressive. Now scientists amalgamate two significant technologies, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics, which is also known as AI-enabled robotics. This combination of technologies is gaining traction in physical therapy and hand therapy. Many healthcare equipment manufacturing brands use this dual technology to design rehabilitation devices that work with upper limbs and lower limbs.
AI-enabled Robotic devices have the capacity to process a massive amount of data and assist patients in doing movements in the right way. AI helps the device to understand patients’ capabilities; therefore, the device can assist a patient in a personalized way. On the other hand, robotic technology is able to sense the tiniest movement and subtle progress in the rehab care journey. That means both of these technologies count the success rate of a particular rehabilitative program on a real-time basis which is undoubtedly motivating for both therapists and patients. When patients can see and experience their recovery, they will start believing in therapist and his treatment.Furthermore, this trust is enough to cut off the patient-noncompliance rate.
This AI-based robotics not only helps patients but also supports therapists. When you collaborate with robot, it will help you to fine-tune patients’ movements and transform these movements into greater functionalities.
AI-enabled robotic technology has a valuable contribution to the rehabilitative care field. It both increases the quality and efficiency of patient care. These combined technologies can never replace human-human interactions, but their involvement in rehab care has made therapists’ jobs simpler. They can focus more on diagnosis and treatment instead of putting constant humdrum inputs. Now rehab care therapists can offer better treatment with a high accuracy level with the help of these technologies.