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pared to other devices at the state of the art, the pro-
posed system presents several advantages. In fact it
embeds the sensorized devices necessary to execute
different kinds of exercisesin a single low-cost frame-
work, exporting the main real-time monitoring fea-
tures to a host PC via a wireless connection. Here,
an accurate analysis of the patient’s performances can
be easily performed, thanks to a user-friendly GUI.
In particular the real-time performance simplifies the
physician’s task of evaluating and correcting the pa-
tient’s training, being immediately available quantita-
tive measurements also involving the time-related as-
pects of the exercise. In the next future the system is
going to be employed in clinical trials on rheumatic
patients, with the aim of verifying the effectiveness of
the approach and the usability. The system could be
further expanded including additional sensorized de-
vices, in order to offer a wider selection of exercises.
Furthermore, being a compact and portable device, it
could represent a good solution to delivery rehabilita-
tion services in the patient’s home.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The research leading to these results has received
funding from the Region of Sardinia, Fundamen-
tal Research Programme, L.R. 7/2007 “Promotion
of the scientific research and technological innova-
tion in Sardinia” under grant agreement CRP2 584
Re.Mo.To. Project. The authors wish to thank V.
Lussu, L. Piras, I. Secci, N. Zaccheddu and F. Boi
for their collaboration. A special acknowledgementto
Michele Crabolu for the development of the first pro-
totypes of the finger tapping unit and the mechanical
realization of both the extension one and the briefcase
structure.
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A PORTABLE REAL-TIME MONITORING SYSTEM FOR KINESITHERAPIC HAND REHABILITATION
EXERCISES
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