Projects
Real-time Pressure Control system, a visual bio-feedback pilot platform for trauma rehabilitation
COFAC/ILIND/BioRG/1/2025
SeedFunding, Universidade Lusófona
BioRG - FE ULusófona
Tiago Granja
Tiago Cunha Reis, FM-UL Susana Maria Coelho Pires, IPLUSO Sérgio Nuno, Clínica São João de Deus Helena Cristina dos Santos Gonçalves de Bastos Melo, IPLUSO Sofia Ramos, ECTS-Ulusófona Sérgio Fallone da Andrade, FF-UL
Fisiologia; Fisioterapia; Medicina; Eletrónica; MachineLearning; Estatística.
Loss of motor function caused by aging, injury, or disease affects millions of people and often leads to long, demanding rehabilitation processes. These processes are frequently undermined by low motivation, limited access to supportive tools, and the repetitive nature of therapy, which can reduce adherence and slow recovery. There is a clear need for rehabilitation solutions that are accessible, engaging, and capable of supporting both patients and healthcare professionals.
This project addresses this need by proposing an innovative rehabilitation aid that transforms physical effort into immediate, intuitive visual feedback. By making movement visible and responsive, the invention aims to encourage active participation, reinforce progress, and support sustained engagement during rehabilitation exercises. The focus is on simplicity and autonomy, allowing users to interact with the system with minimal supervision while still enabling professionals to follow progress and adapt therapeutic goals over time.
The motivation behind the project lies in improving the rehabilitation experience for patients while easing the monitoring burden on healthcare systems. Immediate feedback can help users better understand their own physical capabilities, regain confidence, and stay motivated throughout long recovery periods. For healthcare providers, the approach offers new possibilities for observing progress, personalizing therapy, and supporting remote or home-based rehabilitation.
The expected impact of this invention extends beyond individual recovery. Potential applications include elderly care, post-injury rehabilitation, chronic disease management, and preventive motor training. By promoting engagement, autonomy, and continuity of care, the project contributes to more inclusive rehabilitation practices and may help reduce long-term healthcare costs. From a societal and scientific perspective, it supports innovation in human-centered rehabilitation tools and encourages new approaches to motivating motor recovery.