DEVELOPMENT OF A REHABILITATION GLOVE FOR ELDERLY CARE WITH DEXTERITY

Abstract

The loss of mobility in hands is extremely detrimental to one's autonomy throughout the life. While traditional physical therapy methods prove to be effective, the treatment itself is a time-consuming and tiresome experience that requires patients to visit the clinic constantly. However, wearable robotic gloves have become increasingly popular lately. The limitation is the fact that existing products are overly large, complicated to operate and prohibitively expensive to be used at home by regular people. Thus, a light weight rehabilitation glove that will facilitate movement of fingers and gripping is designed. Sensors known as Force Sensing Resistors (FSRs) have been placed onto the fingertips in order to determine the user's need to grab an object. As soon as there is sufficient pressure detected by the FSRs, Arduino Uno takes control and sends signals to the servo motors which move the joints of a finger and bend it until the finger is fully bent and then keeps it motionless for some time to create the grip dexterity. Due to the presence of technological advancement, the system becomes highly accessible to the paralytic and aged people.