Design and Implementation of an Adaptive Robotic Head Support for Children With Low Head Control

The recent growth of rehabilitation robots offers new opportunities to improve care for patients with low head control. Traditional cervical spine therapy equipment often restricts neck mobility, inadvertently leading to muscle weakness due to inactivity. This study introduces a novel 1-degree-offreedom (DoF) Adaptive Robotic Head Support designed to aid recovery during light activity and strength training in head-neck therapy. This study measured the axial forces that simulate the physical human-robot interaction ($66.1 \pm 3.91 ~\mathrm{N}$) exerted by the head support in 20 tests as the robot lifts a 2 kg medicine ball until the motor stalls ($\mathbf{4. 0 6} \pm \mathbf{0. 9 8} \mathrm{s}$). The Head Support allows full cervical rotation in the transverse plane while providing adjustable support for flexion and extension movements. This study presents a novel head-neck rehabilitation system and tests its ability to support the weight of a six-year-old's head and measure human-robot interaction forces during simulated head-lifting tasks. Our approach aims to address critical gaps in pediatric head neck rehabilitation robotics by reducing the physical burden on clinicians and enhancing rehabilitation capabilities.