# 92. Virtual Physical Therapy

- Show: [The Next Byte Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast)
- Published: 2022-10-18
- Length: 26m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-10-18-92-virtual-physical-therapy
- Listen: https://the-next-byte-wevolver.simplecast.com/episodes/92-virtual-physical-therapy-NxvMkcGE

## Summary

Daniel and Farbod discuss an MIT and Massachusetts General Hospital system called Muscle Rehab, which uses a sensor-laden suit and VR to enable unsupervised physical therapy. The system repurposes Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT), a technology originally used for cancer treatment, to measure deep muscle engagement rather than just surface motion. The hosts highlight that this approach improves rehabilitation effectiveness by 15% and increases physical therapist adoption by providing real-time, data-driven feedback on muscle activation.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-10-18-92-virtual-physical-therapy#t=0) Introduction: Telemedicine and Mouser Electronics Sponsor Read
- [2:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-10-18-92-virtual-physical-therapy#t=179) Introduction: MIT and Mass General's Muscle Rehab System
- [4:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-10-18-92-virtual-physical-therapy#t=267) The Problem: Physical Therapy Shortages and Aging Population
- [6:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-10-18-92-virtual-physical-therapy#t=374) The Solution: The 'Ninja Suit', VR, and EIT Technology
- [9:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-10-18-92-virtual-physical-therapy#t=588) Technical Deep Dive: Electrical Impedance Tomography vs. EMG
- [14:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-10-18-92-virtual-physical-therapy#t=846) Trial Results: 15% Improvement in Effectiveness and Adoption
- [18:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-10-18-92-virtual-physical-therapy#t=1098) Future Applications: Sports Recovery, Prevention, and Cost Reduction

## Topics

- [Medical & health devices](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/medical-devices)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- MIT (company)
- Massachusetts General Hospital (company)
- Mouser Electronics (company)
- Electrical Impedance Tomography (tool)
- EMG (tool)
- VR headset (product)

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## Citing this page

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