Participants
Three knowledge institutes are participating in the project, Roessingh Research and Development (RRD) in Enschede, University of Twente (UT) in Enschede, and the Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre (RUN MC). In every knowledge institutes, one junior researcher/promovenda is situated, taking care of a part of the project. Two commercial companies are participating, BAAT medical engineering in Hengelo and Re-lion BV in Enschede. BAAT medical provides and developes the robotic systems. Re-Lion designs Virtual Environments for usage in rehabiliation therapy.
Roessingh Research and Development
Roessingh Research and Development (RRD) is the largest Dutch scientific research centre in rehabilitation technology, and is an independent Research & Development organization linked to The Roessingh rehabilitation centre in Enschede. Its mission is to generate innovations in rehabilitation care through top class academic research. RRD is internationally recognized as a centre of excellence in the fields of restoration of human function, non-invasive neuromuscular assessment and pain rehabilitation. For more information see the website of RRD.
In the Virturob project, RRD focusses on the effectiveness of different augmented feedback principles in stroke rehabilitation therapy. Augmented feedback plays an essential role in rehabilitation therapy. Augmented feedback can be provided in different ways, such as a score on a screen, verbal encouragements during training, or as a force applied to the arm. Yet, it is unknown which modality of augmented feedback accounts for the beneficial effect on motor relearning of the arm after stroke. By means of literature research and (training) experiments more insight will be obtained into what could be the most optimal augmented feedback training.
Twente University
The University of Twente (UT) is an entrepreneurial research university. It was founded in 1961 and offers education and research in areas ranging from public policy studies and applied physics to biomedical technology. The UT is the Netherlands' only campus university. The research of the Laboratory of Biomechanical Engineering group is directed at the mechanical engineering aspects related to the treatment of impairments of the musculo-skeletal system. This includes both biomechanical analysis and modelling as well as the design and development of constructions to replace, support or correct the skeletal system. For more information see the website of UT.
In the Virturob project, the university of Twente focusses on the assessment of impairments of the upper extremities following stroke using robotic exoskeletons, and electrophysiological methods. There is a need for a quantifiable, reliable, valid and functional neurobiomechanical measure. This neurobiomechanical measure will provide the rehabilitation physician with information to make a decision for a certain training or treatment. Besides, it gives more insight in the rehabilitation process and effect of a certain training or treatment. A new robotic exoskeleton will be assembled, controlled and validated in such a way that it is able to fulfill the requirements on the neurobiomechanical assessment method.
University Medical Centre St Radboud
Rehabilitation research at the UMC St Radboud focuses mainly on movement disorders as a consequence of neuromuscular and neurodegenerative diseases (for instance Parkinson’s disease), disorders of the central nervous system (for instance stroke) and severe traumata (for instance amputations). Furthermore, there is a good collaboration with the department of RD&E at the St Maartenskliniek in Nijmegen, where research on motor rehabilitation is performed. For more information see the website of UMCN.
Within the Virturob, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre focuses on the cognitive aspects of the use of robotics and virtual reality in stroke rehabilitation. Theories of motor learning and motor control will be implemented in the development of a training study for the upper extremity after stroke. In this study, it is hypothesized that functional recovery of stroke patients is dependent on the reduction of cognitive involvement during motor tasks. When the cognitive load during an arm task is too high, it is unlikely that a stroke patient will implement this task into his or her activities of daily living (ADL).
BAAT medical
BAAT medical is located in Hengelo and creates innovative products for the medical marketplace. Currently they focus on four fields; surgical procedures and implants, spine, orthosis and prosthesis and rehabilitation devices. For more information see the website of BAAT medical.
Relion BV
Re-lion BV is located in Enschede and focusses on the development, maintenance and support of training systems for the Defence and Healthcare industries. Their roots can be found at the University of Twente, department of Human-Machine interaction. For more information see the website of Relion BV.
