2023-04-17 22:00:21
- The world’s first massage robot is called EMMA and it would be useful for patients with chronic low back pain.
- It uses Artificial Intelligence to measure the muscle stiffness of each person.
- It is not expected to be a replacement for traditional medicine but rather a complement to current tools.
A robot that does therapeutic massages may seem like something out of a science fiction tale, but in reality it is about to happen. This feat required the work of a group of Mayo Clinic doctors because innovation has multiple goals. One of the main ones is the possibility of relieving pain in patients.
This is where massage therapy comes in. To carry it out, a trained and certified medical professional is required, who has the knowledge to manipulate the soft tissues of the body. The masseuse uses different degrees of pressure and movement.
Massage is generally considered part of the integrative medicine. It is important to emphasize that it is not a substitute for medical treatments, but rather a complement. More and more hospitals are offering this option and it can be used for a wide range of conditions.
The first robot in the world that offers professional massages
Conventionally, this type of massage is given by humans but now, thanks to technology, it is planned to take the next step. It’s all thanks to EMMAwhich is the first robot in the world that can do professional therapeutic massages.
“Some people call it Chinese massage, but it’s really a holistic approach that’s typically used for muscle alignment and muscle problems,” says Mayo Clinic internal medicine general practitioner, Dr. Brent Bauer.
Currently in Rochester, Minnesota, the Mayo Clinic is studying the Use of Tuina in patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain.
“If the study had positive results and we said ‘yes, Tuina can be a very good treatment for many people with chronic low back pain.’ This would represent half of the population and we do not have enough experts in this practice to even meet half of the needs”.
It is there where EMMA, or massages with robots, could help as a complement to some tasks.
“We want the therapist to do the assessment and positioning, but the robot could do some of the repetitive work from then on.”
The robot uses Artificial Intelligence to perform massages
the system of EMMA’s artificial intelligence uses sensors to measure muscle stiffness and calculate acupuncture points on each person’s body. Mayo Clinic hopes to lead the way by conducting clinical evaluations of EMMA.
“Many of our patients will not get comprehensive care or complete relief if we just stick to the conventional methods available to us. This is the part where I love to say ‘Well, we also have acupuncture. We have a massage with proven evidence. Perhaps, we will have Tuina in the near future.’”
Finally, the doctor stressed that this innovation is not intended to replace traditional medicine. In reality, what is sought is to expand the limits to offer greater support to patients. In addition, it would also be useful to reduce the workload in humans.
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