Current State, Needs, and Opportunities for Wearable Robots in Military Medical Rehabilitation and Force Protection.

Despite advances in wearable robots across various fields, there is no consensus definition or design framework for the application of this technology in rehabilitation or musculoskeletal (MSK) injury prevention. This paper aims to define wearable robots and explore their applications and challenges for military rehabilitation and force protection for MSK injury prevention. We conducted a modified Delphi method, including a steering group and 14 panelists with 10+ years of expertise in wearable robots. Panelists presented current wearable robots currently in use or in development for rehabilitation or assistance use in the military workforce and healthcare. The steering group and panelists met to obtain a consensus on the wearable robot definition applicable for rehabilitation or primary injury prevention. Panelists unanimously agreed that wearable robots can be grouped into three main applications, as follows: (1) primary and secondary MSK injury prevention, (2) enhancement of military activities and tasks, and (3) rehabilitation and reintegration. Each application was presented within the context of its target population and state-of-the-art technology currently in use or under development. Capturing expert opinions, this study defines wearable robots for military rehabilitation and MSK injury prevention, identifies health outcomes and assessment tools, and outlines design requirements for future advancements.
Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: The opinions and assertions expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, the Department of Defense, the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs, or the United States Government. Nicola Vitiello has commercial interests in IUVO S.r.l., a spin-off company of Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna; IUVO is the exclusive licensee of the APO technology. The rest of the authors claim no conflicts of interest. Neither the authors, except for Nicola Vitiello, nor their family members have a financial interest in any commercial product, service, or organization providing financial support for this research.