Álvaro was 6 years old when we met him.He went three days a week to the Dacer Foundation for rehabilitation.His life includes this routine because at 14 months of birth he was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy type II.This genetic neuromuscular disease is manifested by a progressive loss of muscle strength due to the involvement of the motor neurons of the spinal cord.The condition causes the nerve impulse to be unable to be properly transmitted to the muscles and they atrophy, making it difficult for essential activities such as speaking, breathing, walking or swallowing.For Álvaro, it is essential to go to rehabilitation to keep his muscles active and slow down the progression of the disease.However, sometimes therapeutic activities are repetitive and boring for him, so the physiotherapist has to use different resources to capture his attention and increase his motivation.Some of these devices arise as a result of the application of robotics and artificial intelligence.They are grouped around various terms that until very recently were restricted to the more scientific field.In this way, we can find products based on care robotics and others developed based on social care robotics.Assistive robotics provides support to people while doing different therapeutic activities.An example would be the exoskeletons or the assistants to the march.For its part, assistive social robotics provides assistance through social interaction with a robot, without the need for physical contact.In this way, emotional bonds can be established between the user and the robot.Currently, there are different international companies that have developed products applying social care robotics.For example, the company Intuition Robotics (in Israel) created ElliQ, a device that provides personal assistance to the adult population in their homes.On the other hand, the company Embodied (in the United States) developed an educational robot and playmate called Moxie aimed at children.Likewise, the company RoboKind (also in the United States) has different products aimed at the educational world.Its objective is to improve physical, cognitive or social skills through repetition and constant practice.In Spain, through the company Inrobics we have developed Inrobics Rehab, a digital platform based on social robotics that provides rehabilitation sessions to people who have limitations in their motor, cognitive and social capacity derived from neurological disorders.It is the first social robotics solution in Europe to achieve certification as a medical device.Inrobics is a company that emerged from the Carlos III University of Madrid after more than seven years of research with the aim of offering an innovative service.The robot that we have developed aims to be a solution for social and health care centers, hospitals and nursing homes.Its purpose is that therapists can configure a session with totally personalized tasks for their patients.Currently, the platform has six blocks of activities that are specified below:Inrobics Rehab can be applied in different ages and pathologies.From children with neurodevelopmental problems to adults with acquired brain damage or disorders resulting from aging such as dementias.As we can see, the platform, accessible from any device with an internet connection, offers therapists a wide range of activities based on the principles of gamification.That is, in the use of techniques and dynamics typical of games in order to enhance motivation and reinforce behavior to solve a problem.In addition, it also aims to intensify therapies, promote neuroplasticity and motor control.Once the session begins, the therapist supervises the patient and assists him if necessary.The intelligent robot could continue on its own until the end, interspersing corrections, breaks and rewards in the form of dances or animated stories as appropriate.Likewise, it incorporates a 3D sensor that monitors all the user's movements and provides information on the ranges of movement of the different joints.Thus, therapists can check if the range of movement of the joint groups affected by the injury has increased.One of the future challenges of this technology is to add a heart rate monitor that provides data on the evolution of the heart rate during the session.This type of data would allow clinicians to check for vascular conditioning during the session and monitor for fatigue.The first investigations about the therapeutic applicability of Inrobics Rehab were carried out at the Virgen del Rocío Hospital in Seville with children with obstetric brachial palsy.Also in a camp for children with cerebral palsy organized by the European University of Madrid.The results of the technological developments and the studies carried out were collected in two doctoral theses and 12 scientific publications.Inrobics integrates an occupational therapist in its staff and always has numerous clinical advisers from different institutions.These people have collaborated to guide and carry out all our developments, in such a way that they adapt as best as possible to the day-to-day and the reality of the therapist and the patient.The experience obtained confirms that social care robotics has the following advantages:Inrobics Rehab is already being marketed.For example, at the beginning of the year, the platform was acquired by an early care center in Palma de Mallorca.For Inrobics it is very important to continue improving the system, expand the uses of the platform and generate scientific evidence, which is why we collaborate with different organizations and institutions.Last July, a pilot study was carried out at the National Hospital for Paraplegics in Toledo with children with spinal cord injury.According to the preliminary data of the study, a slight improvement is observed in the motor aspects of the upper limbs of the participants and a better cardiovascular adaptation to effort.Throughout this year 2022, we will launch the home version of Inrobics Rehab, which will allow patients to carry out rehabilitation sessions in their homes previously configured by their therapists.Scientific advances in all areas of knowledge continue to appear at a dizzying pace.Proof of this is the fact that the first social robots capable of interacting autonomously and intelligently with human beings are already here and, above all, of improving their quality of life in crucial aspects such as rehabilitation treatments.This text is reproduced from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.Copyright 2022 SA THE NATION |All rights reservedDownload the application of LA NACION.It is fast and light.Do you want to receive alert notifications?A connection error has occurred