Background

ReSWOLE: Rehabilitation Skin-stretch Wearable Operating on Lower Extremity is an assistive wearable device worn over the knee to assist with rehabilitation.

Flyer (pdf) Project Website

Problem

In addition to sessions with physical therapists, patients often do many of the exercises on their own time. Rehabilitation exercises often require precise movements to function as intended, and without the live guidance of a therapist, form can suffer.

Objective

Our goal was to use skin-stretch and vibration haptic feedback to guide rehabilitation form in patients with knee injuries, to improve recovery outcome.

Solution

A flexible sensor across the knee reads knee angle, and a servo with a high-friction rubber coated tactor provides skin stretch on the thigh. The skin is stretched downward until the prescribed target angle is read. If the user goes past the target angle, the tactor stretches skin upward. Additionally, a vibration motor provides feedback when the user is right at the target angle.

ReSWOLE: rehabilitation with haptic feedback