[UCI-Calit2] Friday, Sept. 23, 2011: Hermano Igo Krebs Ph.D.

[Anna Lynn Spitzer]

Event:	Robotic Therapy: Bright Lights and Dark Shadows

Time: 	11 a.m.-noon

Date: 	Friday Sept. 23, 2011

Location: 	McDonnell-Douglas Engineering Auditorium, Rockwell
Engineering Center

Speaker: 	Hermano Igo Krebs 

Abstract: 	The 2010 American Heart Association guidelines for
stroke care endorsed upper extremity robotic therapy but not for the
lower extremity, stating that "most trials of robot-assisted motor
rehabilitation concern the upper extremity (UE), with robotics for the
lower extremity (LE) still in its infancy..." In 2010, the Veterans
Administration and the Department of Defense did the same, endorsing
upper extremity robotic therapy but not lower: "recommendation is made
against routinely providing the intervention to asymptomatic patients.
At least fair evidence was found that the intervention is ineffective or
that harms outweigh benefits." These guidelines were based on clinical
evidence of multiple clinical trials. They reflect knowledge of human
motor control applied in upper extremity robotics but not in lower
extremity robotics.

The understanding of recovery following a stroke is imperfect and
environmental manipulation is one important tool in neural recovery, but
questions linger on how to most effectively deploy this technology and
develop an optimal framework for training the injured brain. In this
talk, Krebs will provide an introduction to key topics in the field of
rehabilitation and therapeutic robotics, such as basic neuroscience and
rehabilitation, impairment-based approaches, design and control of
devices, and clinical implications.

Bio:     Krebs received his doctorate in mechanical engineering at MIT.
He is currently a research scientist and lecturer at MIT and an adjunct
professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department
of Neurology and Division of Rehabilitative Medicine.

Sponsors: Departments of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering and Anatomy
& Neurobiology

More information: Christina Sesser, csesser at uci.edu, (949) 824-2583