Introduction to

Rehabilitation Engineering
Technology
Discover the fascinating field of rehabilitation engineering technology, its
purpose, applications in healthcare, key components, challenges,
advancements, and future trends.

Faisal Rajab
Definition of Rehabilitation Engineering
Technology
Rehabilitation engineering technology involves the design and development of assistive devices, technologies,
and systems to enhance the independence, mobility, and quality of life for individuals with disabilities.
Purpose and Importance
Learn why the field of rehabilitation engineering technology plays a vital role in enabling individuals with
disabilities to overcome barriers, regain functionality, and improve their overall well-being.
Applications in Healthcare
Explore the various applications of rehabilitation engineering technology in
healthcare, including prosthetics, orthotics, mobility aids, communication
devices, and adaptive equipment.
Key Components
Assessment &
Evaluation
Comprehensive
assessment and evaluation
of individual needs,
capabilities, and functional
limitations form the basis of
rehabilitation engineering
technology interventions.
Design & Development
Utilizing engineering
principles, experts design
and develop customized
and innovative solutions
tailored to address specific
disabilities and improve the
overall quality of life.
Training & Education
Efficient training and
education programs ensure
that individuals, healthcare
professionals, and
caregivers can effectively
use and maintain
rehabilitation engineering
technology solutions.
Challenges and Issues
Accessibility
Ensuring universal access to
rehabilitation engineering
technology solutions remains a
challenge, requiring ongoing
efforts to address physical,
cognitive, and economic
barriers.
Cost & Affordability
The high cost of advanced
rehabilitation engineering
technology devices and the
lack of insurance coverage can
limit access for individuals in
need.
Ethical
Considerations
Ethical dilemmas arise in areas
such as privacy, informed
consent, and the development
of assistive technologies for
vulnerable populations.
Advancements and Future Trends
Neurorehabilitation
Emerging techniques, such as brain-
computer interfaces and
neurofeedback, hold potential for
improving rehabilitation outcomes in
individuals with neurological
impairments.
1 Robotics and Exoskeletons
Advancements in robotics and
exoskeleton technology offer promising
2 solutions for enhanced mobility,
rehabilitation, and integration into daily
life activities.
3 Wearable Devices
Compact and wearable devices,
including smart prosthetics and sensor-
based systems, are revolutionizing
rehabilitation by providing personalized
and continuous monitoring and support.
Conclusion and Key
Takeaways
• Rehabilitation engineering technology empowers individuals with
disabilities, enabling them to lead more independent and fulfilling

• lives.
Continuous innovation and addressing challenges are essential to
foster the growth and impact of this field.

• Collaboration between engineers, healthcare professionals, and

individuals with disabilities is crucial for the success and effectiveness
of rehabilitation engineering technology.
Introduction to Rehabilitation
American Medical Association Definitions
Impairment

• “alteration of an individual’s health status; a deviation from

normal in a body part or organ system and its functioning”
• Assessed by medical means

Disability

• “alteration of an individual’s capacity to meet personal, social or

occupational demands because of an impairment”
• assessed by non medical means
 Distinguishing between impairment and
disability

Significantly impaired, no disability Significantly impaired, significant

disability

Wheel-chair bound paraplegic Wheel-chair bound paraplegic

Job: accountant Job: tennis player

Minor impairment, no disability Minor impairment, significant disability

Loss of 1 – 2 fingers Loss of 1 – 2 fingers

Job: Carpenter Job: concert pianist
Disease/Injury
 Single event Impairment
 Full - Description of the
minimal physical and
recovery psychological
 Progressive deficits
 Progressive, but
with periods of
remission eg
Multiple Sclerosis
and Rheumatoid Disability
Arthritis Gulf between
 Single event, but persons
with progressive expectations and
loss of function and needs, and
 other systemic capabilities
effects (eg
shoulder pain after
stroke)
Disease/Injury Impairment Disability

Spinal cord injury Permanent neurological Substantial in all aspects

(strength, sensation, of life, except
proprioception) intellectual
Femoral Fracture Temporary – Temporary - mobility
immobilisation, non-
weight bearing,
weakness
Peripheral Vascular Amputation, sensation, Restricted mobility
Disease cardiovascular fitness
Stroke (Recoverable) Moderate to severe with
Neurological cognitive, obvious to subtle
vision, strength problems in all facets
balance
Profile of Disease/Injury
Rehabilitation occurs as a result of:
Injury
• transport
• fall
• sport / recreational
• occupational

Disease
• acute
• chronic (or intermittently acute)
• congenital

And the associated physical and/or cognitive impairments

Framework for Health
 Living with a
Disability

http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4430.0Main+Features452015?OpenDocument
Assignment I
 Living with a Disability
OVERVIEW
This survey collected information on 3 population groups: people aged 60 years and over,
people with disabilities and their carers. There are other sources of information about
services provided to these groups, but this survey is the only source of information on the
assistance requirements of those groups, the extent to which these requirements are met,
and the characteristics of those with unmet need. It also provides information on
participation in economic and community activities. The survey is the major source of
national statistics on carers and primary carers: numbers and characteristics of carers,
care relationships, activities for which informal care is provided, and, for primary carers,
support available and required, and the effects of the caring role on their lives.

http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DSSbyCollectionid/4926CFF764B65A25CA256BD000288447
 Living with a Disability
Main outputs
All persons - Disability status, age, sex, state or territory of usual residence, household and family
variables.
All persons 15 years and over in households - educational attainment, current study, labour force
status, income and main source of income, tenure type.
Persons with a disability - Need for and receipt of assistance, activities for which assistance needed,
frequency of need, providers of assistance, employment and schooling restrictions, long-term health
conditions, main health condition, impairment, activities in which difficulty experienced, ability to use,
use and availability of public transport, participation in community activities, destination of journeys
in previous fortnight, and mode of transport of most recent trip, use of concession cards for travel,
whether has current drivers licence and frequency of driving.

Older persons - Activities for which help was needed, community participation, ability to use,
availability and use of public transport, destination of journeys in previous fortnight, and mode of
transport of most recent trip, use of concession cards for travel, whether has current drivers licence
and frequency of driving.
Primary carers - type of care provided, duration of care and hours spent caring, support available,
impact of caring role on labour force participation, relationships and well-being.
All carers - in - or ex-household care, type of care provided within household, age, sex and
relationship of in-household recipients, type of restriction and main long-term condition of in-
household recipients.

http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DSSbyCollectionid/4926CFF764B65A25CA256BD000288447
 Living with a Disability
Disability was defined as the presence of one or more specified limitations, restrictions or impairments
which had lasted, or was likely to last, for a period of 6 months or more. The specified limitations,
restrictions or impairments were:
• loss of sight (not corrected by wearing glasses or contact lenses)
• loss of hearing, that restricted communication or resulted in the use of an aid
• speech difficulties
• chronic or recurring pain or discomfort causingrestriction
• shortness of breath or breathing difficulties causing restriction
• blackouts, fits, or loss of consciousness
• difficulty learning or understanding
• incomplete use of arms or fingers
• difficulty gripping or holding things
• incomplete use of feet or legs
• a nervous or emotional condition causing restriction
• a restriction in physical activities or in doing physical work
• a disfigurement or deformity
• mental illness or condition requiring help or supervision
• long-term effects of head injury, stroke or other brain damage causing restriction
• receiving treatment or medication for another long-term condition or ailment, and still restricted in
everyday activities
• any other long-term condition resulting in a restriction.

http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DSSbyCollectionid/4926CFF764B65A25CA256BD000288447
 Living with a Disability
Level of severity of limitation
Four levels of severity (profound, severe, moderate and mild) were determined in the survey for
each of the three areas of core activity limitation: self-care, mobility and communication.
These levels were based on the person's ability to perform tasks relevant to these three
areas and on the amount of help required. For each area of core activity limitation the levels
of severity are as follows:
• Profound - personal help or supervision always required (households) or occupant cannot
perform tasks without help or supervision (establishments)
• Severe - personal help or supervision sometimes required. In establishments severe handicap
was only determined for verbal communication.
• Moderate - no personal help or supervision required but the person has difficult in performing
one or more of the tasks
• Mild - no personal help or supervision required and no difficulty in performing any of the
specified tasks but the persons uses an aid. In addition (for the household component only)
any person having difficulty with walking 200 metres, walking up and down stairs without a
handrail, or picking up an object from the floor was determined to have a mild handicap.
People with a schooling or employment restriction also had a specific limitation or restriction, but
the level of severitywas not determined.

http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DSSbyCollectionid/4926CFF764B65A25CA256BD000288447
 Living with a Disability
In 2015:
Almost one in five Australians reported living with disability (18.3% or 4.3 million
people).
• The majority (78.5%) of people with disability reported a physical condition, such as
back problems, as their main long–term health condition. The other 21.5% reported
mental and behavioural disorders.

• More than half of those with disability aged 15 to 64 years participated in the labour
force (53.4%), which is considerably fewer than those without disability (83.2%). These
results are consistent with those in the 2012 SDAC.

Overall Profound or severe core activity limitation

2003 2009 2012 2015 2003 2009 2012 2015
Male 20.4 18.1 17.6 16.7 Male 5.8 5.3 5.4 5.2
Female 19.1 17.3 17.3 16.7 Female 6.5 5.7 6.0 5.6

http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/4430.0Main%20Features12015?opendocument&tabname=Summary&pr
odno=4430.0&issue=2015&num=&view=
 Living with a Disability

Persons with disability Persons with a profound or

severe core activity limitation
800 200 2003 2009
2003
2009 2012 2015
Estimate ('000)

Estimate ('000)
600 150
2012
2015
400 100

200 50

0 0

Age Age

All persons – male and female combined

Living with Disability
Living with Disability
Living with Disability
Living with Disability
Note
- Estimates have been rounded to the
nearest one hundred persons
- A person may be a carer, or primary
carer, and have a disability
themselves. As such, a household
can be represented in more than one
of these estimates due to the
characteristics of only one person
living in that household
- Due to rounding the sum of sub-
totals may not equaltotals

- (a) the sum of these components

may not be equal to the total as a
household may contain peoplewith
disability from more than one age
group

- Source: ABS Survey of Disability

Ageing and Carers, Australia:
Summary of Findings - 2015
Rehabilitation Goals
To promote person’s quality of life and functional outcomes.

Goals will depend on the individual

• Age
• Impairment
• Prognosis
• Expectations, eg. return to work, fully independent, care for
others...
• Access to and quality of Support - family and location in health
system (on farm vs. in city)
Rehabilitation Goals
Maintain/Improve
• Flexibility
• Joint range of motion
• Strength (muscle, connective tissue and bone)
• Balance
• Cardiovascular fitness
• Gait
• Functional activities, eg. sitting, reaching, grasping, dressing,
eating etc.
Rehabilitation Goals
The goals need to be considered from an individual’s
perspective
• independent care
• independent mobility
• communication
• employment
• schooling

The person may not see specific objectives as being

important
• eg. improved posture or range of motion.
Physical Rehabilitation
Major challenges in rehabilitation:
 Cost
 Disease variability
 Time
Exercise
What quantitative measures would be useful for assessing
impairment and disability for:

• Osteoporosis?

• Cardiovascular deficiency?

• Spinal injury?
Osteoporosis

Disability assessment Impairment assessment

Discuss the effect of impairment on an X ray (dual energy x-ray
individual patient basis with respect to adsorptiometry)
the personal, social and occupational
aspects of their life.
Cardiovascular Deficiency

Disability assessment Impairment assessment

Discuss the effect of impairment on an ECG
individual patient basis with respect to Echocardiogram
the personal, social and occupational Stress test
aspects of their life.
Spinal Injury

Disability assessment Impairment assessment

Discuss the effect of impairment on an X ray
individual patient basis with respect to CT
the personal, social and occupational MRI
aspects of their life.
The End