From Brazil to the World: Unifesp's Biomechanics-Driven Orthotics Project Leads Post-Stroke Rehabilitation Innovations
The Institute of Science and Technology of the Federal University of São Paulo (ICT-Unifesp) in Brazil has secured a significant grant of US $115,000.00 from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) for a pioneering project focusing on orthoses innovation and development. This collaboration extends to partner universities in Latin America and Africa.
Entitled "Upper Limb Orthoses for Post-Hospital Rehabilitation of Individuals with Stroke Sequelae: Virtual Production Planning Using Additive Manufacturing and Technical Training in the Area," the project was driven by the urgent need to address the escalating challenges posed by the rise in post-pandemic stroke cases, impacting over 100 million individuals worldwide.
Professor Dr. Maria Elizete Kunkel, vice-president of the Brazilian Society of Biomechanics and project coordinator, underscores the relevance of the initiative in light of Brazil's mounting cases, particularly among young adults aged 30 to 39, leading to lasting motor disabilities. The project aims to revolutionize post-stroke rehabilitation by leveraging Health 4.0 technologies to produce personalized upper limb orthoses. This approach is inspired by the success of Unifesp's Mao3D Extension Program in manufacturing upper limb prostheses.
Collaborating with esteemed institutions such as the University of Vale da Paraíba (UNIVAP), Universidad de La Frontera in Chile (UFRO), and Queen Njinga a Mbandi University (URNM) in Angola, Africa, the project emphasizes interdisciplinary cooperation to address global rehabilitation challenges. Besides enhancing patient outcomes, the project prioritizes training healthcare professionals to implement these advancements effectively, bridging technological innovations with clinical needs.
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Clinical trials will be conducted under the supervision of UNIVAP's physiotherapy team, involving volunteers and post-stroke patients treated by the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), thereby validating the efficacy of these orthoses. Furthermore, professionals from URNM in Africa will undergo training in active methodologies and benefit from artificial intelligence assistance. This training program will be organized by the Ideaufro - Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship of UFRO, with facilitation provided by the Unifesp team at the URNM.
Professor Maria Elizete highlights the project's potential impact beyond scientific realms, emphasizing the significance of interdisciplinary collaboration in driving innovation and technological advancement in prosthetics and orthotics.
Insights from the “X International Congress on Rehabilitation Research” at the National Institute of Rehabilitation in México City, México
We are happy to share highlights from the recent “X International Congress on Rehabilitation Research”, held at the National Institute of Rehabilitation in Mexico City a few months ago. Among the presentations, Alberto I Pérez S, Elisa Romero A, María C Arquer R, Victor M Araujo M, Jorge A Mercado G, Felipe Mendoza C, and Ariadna Del Villar M presented their work titled "Enhancing Biomechanical Perception among High School Students through the National Biomechanics Day."
Their study showed the outcomes of a National Biomechanics Day event conducted last year at the National Institute of Rehabilitation, where high school students engaged in activities centered around biomechanics. To assess the impact of the event and the students’ perceptions, a pre-and-post questionnaire was administered across five domains.
The results revealed a significant increase in students' confidence in understanding biomechanics after the event. This positive shift in perception not only reflects an enhanced understanding of the complexities of biomechanics but also suggests an increased inclination toward pursuing biomechanics-related careers. This highlights the effectiveness of immersive experiences in educational settings.