Current State, Needs, and Opportunities for Wearable Robots in Military Medical Rehabilitation and Force Protection
Rory A. Cooper,
George Smolinski,
Jorge L. Candiotti,
Shantanu Satpute,
Garrett G. Grindle,
Tawnee L. Sparling,
Michelle J. Nordstrom,
Xiaoning Yuan,
Allison Symsack,
Chang Dae Lee,
Nicola Vitiello,
Steven Knezevic,
Thomas G. Sugar,
Urs Schneider,
Verena Kopp,
Mirjam Holl,
Ignacio Gaunaurd,
Robert Gailey,
Paolo Bonato,
Ron Poropatich,
David J. Adet,
Francesco Clemente,
James Abbas,
Paul F. Pasquina
Affiliations
Rory A. Cooper
Human Engineering Research Laboratories, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System and University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15026, USA
George Smolinski
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
Jorge L. Candiotti
Human Engineering Research Laboratories, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System and University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15026, USA
Shantanu Satpute
Human Engineering Research Laboratories, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System and University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15026, USA
Garrett G. Grindle
Human Engineering Research Laboratories, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System and University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15026, USA
Tawnee L. Sparling
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
Michelle J. Nordstrom
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
Xiaoning Yuan
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
Allison Symsack
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
Chang Dae Lee
Department of Occupational Therapy, Indiana University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
Nicola Vitiello
BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56025 Pontedera, PI, Italy
Steven Knezevic
Spinal Cord Damage Research Center, James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10468, USA
Thomas G. Sugar
Barrett, The Honors College, ASU Polytechnic, Mesa, AZ 85281, USA
Urs Schneider
Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Verena Kopp
Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Mirjam Holl
Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Ignacio Gaunaurd
Department of Physical Therapy, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
Robert Gailey
Department of Physical Therapy, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA
Paolo Bonato
Harvard School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Ron Poropatich
Center for Military Medicine Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
David J. Adet
U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center, Natick, MA 01760, USA
Francesco Clemente
Prensilia S.r.l., 56025 Pontedera, PI, Italy
James Abbas
Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research (I3R) and the Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
Paul F. Pasquina
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
Despite advances in wearable robots across various fields, there is no consensus definition or design framework for the application of this technology in rehabilitation or musculoskeletal (MSK) injury prevention. This paper aims to define wearable robots and explore their applications and challenges for military rehabilitation and force protection for MSK injury prevention. We conducted a modified Delphi method, including a steering group and 14 panelists with 10+ years of expertise in wearable robots. Panelists presented current wearable robots currently in use or in development for rehabilitation or assistance use in the military workforce and healthcare. The steering group and panelists met to obtain a consensus on the wearable robot definition applicable for rehabilitation or primary injury prevention. Panelists unanimously agreed that wearable robots can be grouped into three main applications, as follows: (1) primary and secondary MSK injury prevention, (2) enhancement of military activities and tasks, and (3) rehabilitation and reintegration. Each application was presented within the context of its target population and state-of-the-art technology currently in use or under development. Capturing expert opinions, this study defines wearable robots for military rehabilitation and MSK injury prevention, identifies health outcomes and assessment tools, and outlines design requirements for future advancements.
