Activity report

Professor Yuji Oki Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty of Fukuoka Medical Technology

In 1991, he graduated from the Rehabilitation Institute of Fukuoka Higashi Hospital Department of Occupational Therapy. Worked at a hospital as an occupational therapist. Since 2003, he has served as the head of the department at Fukuoka Rehabilitation College Department of Occupational Therapy. In 2008, he graduated from Fukuoka University Graduate School Graduate School of Humanities with a major in education and clinical psychology. In 2010, he worked on bone research at Kyushu University Graduate School School of Dentistry. In 2016, he became the Professor of Teikyo University Faculty of Fukuoka Medical Technology Department of Occupational Therapy.

Occupational therapists specialize in the basic movements of muscles and bones during work, which are essential for daily life, work, sports, and other activities. They often work in hospitals and clinics, developing occupational therapy programs tailored to each patient's physical condition. I began my career as an occupational therapist in the early 1990s, when little was known about the job. While working as an occupational therapist, I continually studied to improve my knowledge and skills. From 2010, I attended Graduate School at Kyushu University for four years, where I studied bones. Even now, I frequently work with patients who have suffered limb fractures or amputations. A major issue is the prevalence of prosthetic limbs. Compared to prosthetic limbs, prosthetic limbs are used far less frequently.

The main reasons are price and weight. Since the movement of the hand is complicated, a prosthetic hand called myoelectric prosthesis is used, which uses electrical signals to the muscles to move voluntarily. It is made in Germany and has excellent functions, but it is expensive at 1.2 to 2.8 million yen. It looks heavy and is often avoided by patients. Therefore, we thought that we could use a 3D printer to develop a myoelectric prosthetic arm with significantly reduced cost and weight. First, I researched people who were developing platforms such as CPUs and had similar aspirations, and purchased platforms that would be useful for prosthetic hand development. Next, together with the students, we designed each part using CAD, printed it with a 3D printer, and assembled it. As a result, I was able to make a myoelectric prosthesis for 60,000 yen. After testing it on people who needed it, we found that it worked well, and are now making it for people who want it. In the field of occupational therapy, I feel that it is becoming more and more important to work together to develop solutions that integrate human body research, patient needs, and society's cutting-edge technology.

Currently, we are furthering our activities and working on the utilization of Metaverse and 3D scanning. For example, create an avatar in the Metaverse and actually project the patient's image. Even if the patient is missing the right hand, the avatar will have the right hand. When you start using it, you will be absorbed in trying to move the avatar, but at the same time, you will unconsciously and naturally try to move the muscles in your right hand, which is missing. Elderly people who suffer from chronic pain tend to feel a strong resistance to moving the painful area, but this method allows them to move naturally. Similar effects are possible in people with paralysis. I thought that it would be possible to move the neural circuit without difficulty, and I am currently working with the hospital to consider whether it can be incorporated into the menu for patients. I expect that if we can create a strong motivation to move, we will be able to significantly lower the hurdles to wearing myoelectric prosthetic arms and legs. The application of 3D scanners also has the same purpose, although the approach is different. When I scan an old iron that was used decades ago and show it to the elderly using VR, they try to touch it while saying "Nostalgic!" In other words, natural motivation works. I believe that these are effective not only as occupational therapy, but also for cognitive function training.

I was surprised. When patients who experienced various simulated experiences in VR were given an amylase test, known as a stress test, it was found that the value decreased dramatically. We learned this as a result of conducting a survey after receiving a report from a patient who experienced VR that pain in the affected area was relieved. To be honest, I was skeptical of the results. However, the numbers have actually dropped significantly. So, when I conducted the same test on about 25 patients and also conducted a psychological test, significant results were obtained in all of them. I was surprised. When I looked into the papers, I found that it is already becoming commonplace in the United States. When your body hurts or hurts, you rub the affected area. The sensation of pain is a little slower in nerve transmission, and the nerve transmission in the act of rubbing is faster. Therefore, the feeling of rubbing goes to the brain first, so it can distract the feeling of pain that comes later. VR may have a similar principle. I am still continuing my research.

"Use the latest technology to create motivation to move your body." We believe that this is consistent with the overall theme of the SDGs, which is to develop society while advancing technology and enhancing sustainability. Our method can be applied anywhere in the increasingly digital world. A new style of work may be born with the use of inexpensive myoelectric prosthetic hands and VR. It is difficult for children with disabilities to go outside, and it is difficult to develop awareness of using their bodies, but applying esports may create new motivation. If we can maximize the potential of all people, we can contribute to multiple themes of the SDGs. Creating motivation to move the body through elements such as cost-reduced myoelectric prostheses and VR, and providing rehabilitation programs there, may create unprecedented value in occupational therapy. It's a really interesting time. I want to do whatever I can to help my patients. If we can solve even one small thing, the patients will be happy. This is the energy of action.

On the other hand, we are experts in bones, muscles and work. If we think only about the digitized world, it may be different from physical movement, but all our ideas are based on the human body. That's why we can drop it into a program for patients as occupational therapy. We are also exploring educational methods to nurture such knowledge and realize the fusion of occupational therapy and digital technology. For example, if occupational therapists have the knowledge and experience to design with CAD, the quality of artificial limbs will change. Therefore, I am working to have the students in my laboratory acquire design technology. The human body model used for learning can also be presented to each person as a precise material if digital is used. I believe that the appearance of the students who learn in this way and open up the next future is the very image of the sustainable society advocated by the SDGs. Convinced that innovations in occupational therapy can contribute to the realization of the SDGs, we continue to focus on resolving "patients' problems."