Design and simulation of an equipment for the rehabilitation of people affected by ACV, starting from the subacute stage

Abstract

Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA) or stroke is a disease that results in paralysis of one side of the body. Physical therapy is generally used as a muscular rehabilitation tool that involves different techniques and exercises. For it to be effective, the process must be accompanied by the constancy and discipline with which the routines are performed, which are frequently limited to the hospital environment, causing an interruption in the development of recovery due to the absence of home mechanisms that facilitate its execution in a safe and complete manner. In Colombia, these aspects are enhanced by intervening factors such as: extensive travel from rural areas to care sites, accessibility to specialized centers, among others. That is why this article provides the proposal of an equipment that contributes to CVA rehabilitation from the subacute stage. The design and operation were developed and simulated through Solidworks 2018 Software, involving a series of exercises for upper and lower limbs considered by physiotherapists as of high importance in the treatment of the disease; it means, they can be executed by the patient under ergonomic and safety conditions.

Article history: Received (April 27, 2021); Revised (July 16, 2021); Accepted (July 20, 2021); Published online (September 1, 2021)