Mobility is one of the most important human faculties and can be defined as the ability of an individual to move freely through multiple environments and perform daily personal tasks with ease. Evidences show that mobility restrictions are associated with cognitive and psychosocial disturbances, which further impairs the quality of life of the individual. Different conditions, such as stroke, spinal cord injury and cerebral palsy affect human mobility causing partial or total loss of locomotion capacities. In addition, it is known that mobility decreases gradually with age as a consequence of neurological, muscular and/or osteoarticular deterioration.

Neuroscience has found that specific, repetitive and intensive training induces neuronal plasticity and therefore a cortical reorganization of brain damage. In order to improve the locomotor training of patients with reduced mobility, several robotic devices have been proposed as alternatives to be used in therapeutic interventions. The combination of electromechanical assisted gait training along with physical therapy increases a patient's chances of reaching autonomous locomotion. New technologies have emerged to improve the life conditions of people with motor impairments. Soft robotics, design, either due to the hardware or control, has led to the emergence of several promising applications to improve the life conditions of this population. Additionally, solutions to assist daily living require robust interfaces that allow for natural control. These interfaces may rely on diverse modalities information that can be related with the intention, preparation and generation of voluntary movement, either at mechanical or neural level.

INVITED SPEAKERS

CALL AND SUBMISSION

PROGRAM

Registration of participants

Introduction from the organizers

Short presentations

Coffee Break

Sara Múnera: Design challenges for inclusive technology

Discussion Topic I

José María Azorín: Brain-Machine Interfaces for Rehabilitation based on Exoskeletons

Lunch Break

Discussion Topic 2

Martin Stoelen: Soft and variable-stiffness robotic arms

Discussion Topic 3

Plenary Discussion

Wrap up and Farewell

ORGANIZERS

MEDIA AND MATERIALS