Robots are machines that perform complex actions in response to programming. Although industrial robotic arms mimic the shape of human arms, humanoid robots capable of working alongside people do not yet exist.
In the future, it may be possible to design and program robots with familiar forms to perform many of the physically intensive tasks required by healthcare professionals. The most physically demanding tasks in healthcare are associated with lifting and moving patients. Considering the high rate of obesity in the US, lifting patients has become even more difficult. Stress on the musculoskeletal system can lead to low back pain in nurses and orderlies who are required to lift patients on a regular basis.
Robots are already used in clinical settings in, for example, robot-assisted gait training. These robots do not have a humanoid appearance, but they contain sophisticated programs, sensors, physical linkages, and motors. They are attached to the body of patients to guide proper movement while the patient walks on a treadmill.
The term robot may even be extended to the advanced prosthetics that are currently being developed. Robotic foot and ankle prosthetics utilize motors, sophisticated electronics, and mechanical components to achieve movement similar to the human body. There have also been advances in robotic hands.
