Research and development of an ai-powered back massage system rooted in traditional Vietnamese medicine

Abstract

The rapid growth of the aging global population has intensified the demandforhealthcare and therapeutic solutions. This shift towards a senior demographichasresulted in an increase in chronic conditions such as arthritis, spinal degeneration, andcirculatory disorders, which is anticipated to strain the healthcare systems significantly.What’s more, psychological issues including anxiety, depression andinsomniahighlights a need for effective therapeutic care. Among the various therapeuticapproaches available, traditional Vietnamese therapeutic massage has longbeenrecognized for its ability to alleviate physical ailments and promote mental relaxation.However, the increasing number of patients seeking therapeutic massage hasputastrain on the therapist, which could diminish the efficiency of the massagesession.This is where massage robots come into play, helping to reduce the workloadformedical staff. Massage robots have gained traction worldwide for their abilitytoimprove overall well-being, yet they remain relatively unfamiliar in Vietnamwherepeople prefer traditional massage performed by human therapists. Most availablemassage devices are limited to handheld tools or fixed equipment like massagechairs,which may fail to fully replicate traditional Vietnamese therapeutic massagetechniques. Not to mention that many individuals could experience a senseofdiscomfort letting strangers touch their body directly which could pose barrierstoprofessional massage services. Also, most current robotic massage solutionsaremainly imported, which are quite exorbitant and lack cultural relevance as theyaremanufactured to meet a global audience rather than tailored to therapeutic referencesof Vietnamese users. As a result, these innovations fail to incorporate cultural elementsof traditional Vietnamese massage, such as acupressure, smooth frictionmovementsand herbal oil applications. To address these issues, our research proposedthedevelopment of an innovative massage robot that integrates traditional Vietnamesetherapeutic techniques and allows personal adjustment depending on preferences. Thisdesign could be a harmonious blend of technology and tradition, which is expectedtopreserve and promote traditional medicine while bringing a newwave of innovationtothe development of the country's medical technology sector.