Design of the workstation for hand rehabilitation based on data glove

This paper presents a development program of a new rehabilitation workstation for hand dysfunction. The rehabilitation workstation has functions as follows: hand dysfunction diagnosis, assessment of disability, hand rehabilitation by physical training. With the assistance of data gloves as well as hand strength measuring/training devices designed by the present authors, this workstation measures the hand joints movement accurately, and assesses and trains muscle strength. The system assists physiatrists to perform clinical activities and conduct scientific researches such as disability evaluation, treatment decision, recovery evaluation, clinical information analysis and data filing. As a result, an integral system can be established for rehabilitation of hand dysfunction. This system makes the simultaneous treatments available to patients by simply increasing the number of hand-training devices; the efficiency of rehabilitation is improved consequently.