Design and development of a 3D neck rehabilitation system: A preliminary prototype combining manufacturing and accuracy measurement
H. F. Jameel
, A. Alazawi
, A.I. Mahmood
Abstract: Objective: This study aims to investigate the performance of the proposed rehabilitation device with the objective of helping patients who experience neck pain in terms of enhancing muscular strength and augmenting the range of motion. Materials and methods: The proposed prototype device of rehabilitation was realised using a power supply unit, microcontroller, and 3D assembly unit that can execute four therapeutic manoeuvres according to a control algorithm. The performance of the proposed prototype has been measured according to the following figures of merits as: movement accuracy, response time, and consistency. The Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) has also been measured at a load range of no load, medium load (2Kg), and full load (5Kg). Results: The results showed an average accuracy of 88.6%, an average response time of 2.6 seconds, and an average relative stability of 7.96%. In addition, load tests have validated the design with weight variations (children or adults), where the 1.05 degree of RMSE at full load was measured. Discussion: Results confirm that the system has promising initial efficacy for neck rehabilitation and supporting patients during recovery after surgeries or accidents. According to the preliminary results, the device's effectiveness could be improved by conducting additional experiments with a broader patient population. More testing is required for users with advanced or complex neck injuries to assess the device's impact across various health conditions and to understand the responses of different types of acute or chronic injuries. Conclusion: The prototype was tested on healthy individuals to simulate the required movements safely. Furthermore, the model is still in its early stages of development and has not yet undergone sufficient testing to ensure its complete safety for use on patients with actual neck injuries. Subsequent research on system efficacy via clinical assessments is required, and devising sophisticated workout algorithms is pointed out, which would integrate biosensing technology with smartphone applications for improved interactivity and remote surveillance.
Series on Biomechanics, Vol.40, No. 1 (2026),26-35
DOI: 10.7546/SB.01.04.2026
Keywords: Assistive Medical Device; Movement accuracy; Neck rehabilitation; Time Response Analysis
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| Date published: 2026-03-23
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