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Handelzalts S, Ballardini G, Avraham C, Pagano M, Casadio M, Nisky I. Integrating Tactile Feedback Technologies Into Home-Based Telerehabilitation: Opportunities and Challenges in Light of COVID-19 Pandemic. Front Neurorobot 2021; 15:617636. [PMID: 33679364 PMCID: PMC7925397 DOI: 10.3389/fnbot.2021.617636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for advancing the development and implementation of novel means for home-based telerehabilitation in order to enable remote assessment and training for individuals with disabling conditions in need of therapy. While somatosensory input is essential for motor function, to date, most telerehabilitation therapies and technologies focus on assessing and training motor impairments, while the somatosensorial aspect is largely neglected. The integration of tactile devices into home-based rehabilitation practice has the potential to enhance the recovery of sensorimotor impairments and to promote functional gains through practice in an enriched environment with augmented tactile feedback and haptic interactions. In the current review, we outline the clinical approaches for stimulating somatosensation in home-based telerehabilitation and review the existing technologies for conveying mechanical tactile feedback (i.e., vibration, stretch, pressure, and mid-air stimulations). We focus on tactile feedback technologies that can be integrated into home-based practice due to their relatively low cost, compact size, and lightweight. The advantages and opportunities, as well as the long-term challenges and gaps with regards to implementing these technologies into home-based telerehabilitation, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirley Handelzalts
- Department of Physical Therapy, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
- The Translational Neurorehabilitation Lab at Adi Negev Nahalat Eran, Ofakim, Israel
| | - Giulia Ballardini
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and Systems Engineering, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- S.C.I.L Joint Lab, Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and System Engineering (DIBRIS), Santa Corona Hospital, Pietra Ligure, Italy
| | - Chen Avraham
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
- Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
| | - Mattia Pagano
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and Systems Engineering, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- S.C.I.L Joint Lab, Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and System Engineering (DIBRIS), Santa Corona Hospital, Pietra Ligure, Italy
| | - Maura Casadio
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and Systems Engineering, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- S.C.I.L Joint Lab, Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and System Engineering (DIBRIS), Santa Corona Hospital, Pietra Ligure, Italy
| | - Ilana Nisky
- The Translational Neurorehabilitation Lab at Adi Negev Nahalat Eran, Ofakim, Israel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
- Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
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Ballardini G, Florio V, Canessa A, Carlini G, Morasso P, Casadio M. Vibrotactile Feedback for Improving Standing Balance. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:94. [PMID: 32154229 PMCID: PMC7046798 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Maintaining balance standing upright is an active process that complements the stabilizing properties of muscle stiffness with feedback control driven by independent sensory channels: proprioceptive, visual, and vestibular. Considering that the contribution of these channels is additive, we investigated to what extent providing an additional channel, based on vibrotactile stimulation, may improve balance control. This study focused only on healthy young participants for evaluating the effects of different encoding methods and the importance of the informational content. We built a device that provides a vibrotactile feedback using two vibration motors placed on the anterior and posterior part of the body, at the L5 level. The vibration was synchronized with an accelerometric measurement encoding a combination of the position and acceleration of the body center of mass in the anterior-posterior direction. The goal was to investigate the efficacy of the information encoded by this feedback in modifying postural patterns, comparing, in particular, two different encoding methods: vibration always on and vibration with a dead zone, i.e., silent in a region around the natural stance posture. We also studied if after the exposure, the participants modified their normal oscillation patterns, i.e., if there were after effects. Finally, we investigated if these effects depended on the informational content of the feedback, introducing trials with vibration unrelated to the actual postural oscillations (sham feedback). Twenty-four participants were asked to stand still with their eyes closed, alternating trials with and without vibrotactile feedback: nine were tested with vibration always on and sham feedback, fifteen with dead zone feedback. The results show that synchronized vibrotactile feedback reduces significantly the sway amplitude while increasing the frequency in anterior-posterior and medial-lateral directions. The two encoding methods had no different effects of reducing the amount of postural sway during exposure to vibration, however only the dead-zone feedback led to short-term after effects. The presence of sham vibration, instead, increased the sway amplitude, highlighting the importance of the encoded information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Ballardini
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and Systems Engineering, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Valeria Florio
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and Systems Engineering, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Andrea Canessa
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and Systems Engineering, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giorgio Carlini
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and Systems Engineering, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Pietro Morasso
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and Systems Engineering, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Robotics, Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Italian Institute of Technology, Genoa, Italy
| | - Maura Casadio
- Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and Systems Engineering, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
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