Robotics as a Form of Non Surgical Complementary Osteoarthritis Treatment

Abstract

Osteoarthritis, a widespread joint disease that engenders considerable disability among a large proportion of older adults in all parts of the world is a major costly social and fiscal public health concern. While largely incurable, it is shown that a variety of carefully designed conservative non invasive interventions may however, influence the disease process quite favourably. However, whether certain advances in technology and less emphasis on non pharmacologic and non surgical health programs and others can be obviated by non human methods is not well clarified. This mini review primarily strove to uncover any favourable advances in this regard in the context of artificial intelligence that may independently or collectively address the needs of older adults with osteoarthritis who are poor surgical or drug candidates. Using PUBMED, PubMed Central and Google Scholar data bases, an extensive scan covering current discussions and research on osteoarthritis, robots, and robotics shows a sizeable percentage of older adults who suffer from multiple adverse osteoarthritis health complications including musculoskeletal, cognitive, macro and micro tissue disturbances, depression and plus possible neurological and inflammatory manifestations even if they are receiving standard care, may receive some benefit from carefully selected robotically oriented support approaches. Ethical challenges, as well as patient preferences, and know how, plus overall efficacy in face of this complex disease remain to be uncovered.