3D Printing Makes Hand Therapy More Affordable

Purpose & objective

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES
This poster presentation aims to provide inspiration and ideas for others to replicate our therapy device by using only a 3D printer and an Arduino, in order to help as many as possible to rehabilitate.
In this poster session:
Participants will sympathize with students' concerns about the need to help people with less resources that needs rehabilitation therapy.
Attendees will recognize how collaborative work impacts decision making to solve real problems.
Participants will see how students can give a solution to a real health problem by integrating S.T.E.M. fields and the maker culture.
PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES
This poster presentation aims to provide inspiration and ideas for others to replicate our therapy device by using only a 3D printer and an Arduino, in order to help as many as possible to rehabilitate.
In this poster session:
Participants will sympathize with students' concerns about the need to help people with less resources that needs rehabilitation therapy.
Attendees will recognize how collaborative work impacts decision making to solve real problems.
Participants will see how students can give a solution to a real health problem by integrating S.T.E.M. fields and the maker culture.

DESCRIPTION AND EVIDENCE OF SUCCESS
In 2016, Mexico´s health care system (IMSS), registered 1,871 cases of hand injuries, but unfortunately more than 80% of patients stopped their therapy due to lack of equipment and money to continue therapy in private clinics. This problem let us see that lower and upper extremities rehabilitation in low- and middle-income countries, such as Mexico, is often hampered by lack of clinical resources and funding, making patients and clinicians face many challenges in hand function rehabilitation.

To provide a cost-effective solution for hand rehabilitation that can alleviate the need for one-on-one physical therapy, in upper extremities, we developed RoboHealth.

Robohealth, is a therapy device used for neuromuscular rehabilitation of the hand and forearm that may help patients regain hand mobility through motor relearning. Robohealth, is an automated device that is available to all audiences, because it is manufactured with structures printed on 3D printer and with the help of an Arduino to code therapeutic routines, this way, RoboHealth is quite economical and can be replicated within any Makerspace, making rehabilitation more affordable.

Supporting research

Mexico, S. D. S. D. L. C. (2017, 17 octubre). 26 POR CIENTO DE ACCIDENTES LABORALES, SON EN MANOS: ARMANDO AHUED. Secretarìa de Salud de la Ciudad de Mexico. https://www.salud.cdmx.gob.mx/comunicacion/nota/26-por-ciento-de-accidentes-laborales-son-en-munecas-y-manos-armando-ahued

Lerma, G. E. (2016, 1 noviembre). El papel de la rehabilitación tras las reparaciones de las inestabilidades de muñeca | Revista Iberoamericana de Cirugía de la Mano. Revista iberoamericana de la cirugía de la mano. https://www.elsevier.es/es-revista-revista-iberoamericana-cirugia-mano-134-articulo-el-papel-rehabilitacion-tras-reparaciones-S1698839616300160

Fidioterapia De Mano Motorizado en Mercado Libre México. (s. f.). Mercado libre. Recuperado 19 de febrero de 2020, de https://listado.mercadolibre.com.mx/fidioterapia-de-mano-motorizado_Desde_49

Avila López, M. Y. (2015, 1 diciembre). Diagnóstico y Manejo Integral de las LESIONES TRAUMÁTICAS de Mano en el Adulto. CENETEC. http://www.cenetec.salud.gob.mx/descargas/gpc/CatalogoMaestro/065_GPC_LesTxdemanoeneladulto/Mano_ER_CENETEC.pdf

La O Ramos, R. (s. f.). La mano y su rehabilitación. La mano y su rehabilitación. Recuperado 19 de febrero de 2020, de http://www.sld.cu/galerias/pdf/sitios/rehabilitacion/mano.pdf

Zhou, P. (2018). "Intelligent Hand Rehabilitation Using an Exoskeleton Driven by Intent and Muscle Activities". Obtenido de TIRR Memorial Hermann Journal http://tirr.memorialhermann.org/journal/2018-summer/intelligent-hand-rehabilitation-using-an-exoskeleton/