The purpose of this pilot study is to validate the safety, reliability and usability of FLOAT medical device, a prototypal robotic system for the rehabilitation of the shoulder, designed and developed in the Rehab Technologies IIT-INAIL Lab to fulfil the needs orthopaedic conditions. The acceptance from patients and therapists will be assessed after a single session of robotic therapy in a sample of injured workers suffering from post-traumatic or post-surgical shoulder disorders.
This study aims to: 1. Test the safety and reliability of the FLOAT device for delivering post-acute motor and functional rehabilitation of patients with orthopaedic shoulder dysfunction. 2. Assess the three different modalities of utilization of the exoskeleton (Passive Mode, Learn\&Repeat Mode, Transparency Mode). 3. Evaluate the usability of the device in terms of comfort, adaptability to different patients' anthropometrics, general functioning and overall satisfaction. Six injured workers with shoulder post-traumatic and post-operative dysfunction will be enrolled in a single testing session at the INAIL Rehabilitation Center in Volterra. Pilot testing of FLOAT device will focus mainly on the feasibility of implementing the multiple operating modes of the new device, recording patients and therapist's feedback. The session will last about 3 hours and all exercises will be administered by a trained physical therapist supported by a member of the engineering team. For Aim 1, Safety and Reliability of the device will be evaluated in terms of the number of adverse events and malfunctions occurring during the study session. For Aim 2, each modality will be assessed by means of the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), The Borg CR10 Scale Perceived Exertion (only for the Transparent mode) and ad-hoc clinician-generated questionnaires for both patients and therapists. For aim 3, patient and therapist's general evaluation about usability will be detected through a final ad-hoc questionnaire.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
DEVICE_FEASIBILITY
Masking
NONE
The FLOAT device is composed by a wearable exoskeleton assembled on a poly-articulated arm that, in turn, is mounted on a support base with unlockable wheels. The exoskeleton includes 5 motors arranged in a way that, when generating movement, ensures the optimal involvement of all the articulations of the shoulder complex, particularly the glenohumeral and the scapulothoracic joints. According to the chosen modality of use of the exoskeleton, the device allows patient's passive or active-assisted mobilization. The poly-articulated arm supporting the exoskeleton is capable to compensate exoskeleton weight in every configuration and, if configured appropriately, permits exoskeleton use both in seated and standing positions. The support base of the device has unlockable wheels that, if unlocked, permit the free movement of the patient in the workspace, enabling the performance of more complex functional activities while assisted by the exoskeleton.
INAIL - Centro di Riabilitazione Motoria di Volterra
Volterra, Pisa, Italy
Number of adverse events
The physiotherapist is required to report any adverse events occurring during the study in regard to the use of FLOAT, for the purpose of evaluating the safety of the device
Time frame: 1 year
Number of device malfunctions
The physiotherapist is required to report any malfunctions occurring during the study in regard to the use of FLOAT, for the purpose of evaluating the reliability of the device
Time frame: 1 year
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
NPRS is an 11-point scale for patient self-reporting of pain, with 0 being "no pain" and 10 being "the worst pain imaginable"; It will be administered after each series of joint mobilization exercises.
Time frame: 1 year
The Borg Category-Ratio Scale (CR-10)
The Borg CR10 Scale is a tool for estimating effort and exertion, breathlessness, and fatigue during physical work, with rating ranges from 0 (nothing at all) to 10 (extremely strong). It will be administered after each series of functional tasks in transparent mode
Time frame: 1 year
Ad-hoc questionnaires for the patient, one for each of the three modalities (for a total amount of 3 questionnaires)
Clinician-generated questionnaire to investigate patients' impressions about the physical interaction with the robotic device using the specific modality. Each questionnaire consists of a series of items with 5-point rating scale (1= not at all, 5=very well)
Time frame: After the completion of the testing session with each of the three modalities
Ad-hoc questionnaires for the therapist, one for each of the three modalities (for a total amount of 3 questionnaires)
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Enrollment
6
Clinician-generated questionnaire to investigate therapist's impressions about the usability and efficiency the robotic device using the specific modality. It will be administered after the completion of the testing session with each of the three modalities. Each questionnaire consists of a series of items with 5-point rating scale (1=not at all, 5=very well)
Time frame: 1 year
Ad-hoc questionnaire for the patient (final evaluation)
Clinician-generated questionnaire to investigate patients' general evaluation about FLOAT usability. The questionnaire consists of a series of items with 5-point rating scale (1=not at all, 5=very well)
Time frame: 1 year (at the end of the study)
Ad-hoc questionnaire for the therapist (final evaluation)
Clinician-generated questionnaire to investigate therapists' general evaluation about FLOAT usability. The questionnaire consists of a series of items with 5-point rating scale (1=not at all, 5=very well)
Time frame: 1 year (at the end of the study)