Experts in Germany are working on an ‘intelligent suit’ with which they hope to significantly improve rehabilitation after a serious spinal cord injury. This artificial intelligence (AI)-supported solution will be developed over the next three years by researchers from Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU; Erlangen, Germany) working in collaboration with Heidelberg University and Heidelberg University Hospital (both Heidelberg, Germany).
“Although great progress has been made in recent years, the therapies which are currently available do not correspond to the principles of motor learning,” said Claudio Castellini (FAU, Erlangen, Germany), discussing the limitations of existing spinal cord injury treatments intended to help restore arm and hand function. “Firstly, especially weak muscles are not targeted sufficiently, and, secondly, patients are not actively encouraged to execute useful motor exercises. Our experience has shown that this leads to patient engagement waning over time.”
