Emerging Bioinspired E-Skins for Rehabilitation Medicine: From Sensor Mechanisms to Personalized Rehabilitation

Abstract

Emerging in the early 20th century, rehabilitation medicine is now recognized as one of the four fundamental components of Universal Health Coverage by the World Health Organization. It plays an indispensable role in regaining patients' functional capabilities and enhancing their quality of life. However, the dependence on bulky and stationary rehabilitation equipment constrains accessibility, elevates treatment costs, and impedes the provision of personalized care. Bioinspired electronic skins (e-skins), characterized by their lightweight, wearable, and multifunctional characteristics, present a viable pathway toward decentralized and continuous rehabilitation. Since their conceptual inception in the 1960s, e-skins have evolved through four distinct phases, culminating in today's precise, flexible, and highly integrated systems specifically designed for clinical applications. This review provides a systematic overview of the historical progression of this interdisciplinary field, categorizing five principal sensing mechanisms along with the corresponding fabrication strategies for e-skin technologies. Furthermore, it examines the applications of e-skins within four representative rehabilitation domains: neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary, and chronic diseases. Subsequently, a thorough assessment of the existing technological challenges is presented, accompanied by strategic recommendations for future research. By addressing a pivotal interdisciplinary gap, this Review offers actionable insights to propel the development and clinical integration of next-generation e-skin technologies for rehabilitation medicine.

Keywords: bioinspired; cardiopulmonary diseases; chronic diseases; electronic skins; musculoskeletal diseases; neurological diseases; rehabilitation medicine; sensor; wearable device.