Suffers of degenerative diseases such as those classified under muscular dystrophy may get help from robotics in completing tasks and maintaining their muscle mass, experts are saying.

 

According to the Rochester Institute of Technology, which is part of a research team that’s studying physiological data to improve assistive devices, more sophisticated robotics are being developed all the time.

 

According to Edward Brown, an assistant professor of electrical engineering at RIT and director of its Biomechatronics Learning Laboratory, robotics take advantage of a muscular dystrophy sufferer’s residual strength and brain signals to help him regain use of muscles and limbs.

 

“Better orthotic technologies could ultimately help people suffering from this disease greatly enhance the quality of their life,” Brown said.

 

For many, that life is change dramatically with the onset of muscular dystrophy – a condition that the National Institute of Health says no treatment has been developed to stop or reverse.

 

“Treatment may include physical therapy, respiratory therapy, speech therapy, orthopedic appliances used for support, and corrective orthopedic surgery,” according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Health. “Drug therapy includes corticosteroids to slow muscle degeneration, anticonvulsants to control seizures and some muscle activity, immuno-suppressants to delay some damage to dying muscle cells, and antibiotics to fight respiratory infections. Some individuals may benefit from occupational therapy and assistive technology. Some patients may need assisted ventilation to treat respiratory muscle weakness and a pacemaker for cardiac abnormalities.”

 

Though no “cure” for muscular dystrophy has been identified, still, according to RIT, researchers are focused on developing orthotics technologies that will create a broader field of rehabilitative devices.

 

“Researchers in the Biomechatronic Learning Laboratory are currently studying individuals with healthy muscles to develop a baseline, and then plan to test their robotic system on patients currently suffering from muscular dystrophy,” RIT officials say.