Today we were back in one of the labs at the Bilbao School of Engineering, taking a closer look at the Oreka Balance project, an engineering lab that our guide, Saioa, had discussed earlier in the week. We met with a PHD student in her lab, Paul, and he walked us through how they developed a better way to observe patients. They accomplished this by installing a camera on the machine that tracks and displays the patient’s motion on another screen. The lab also developed stickers to place on patient’s muscle regions, enabling them to analyze each muscle to figure out which one is used during exercises. This technology helped researchers optimize their development,which helped them effectively rehabilitate patients. I loved how the Oreka lab was continuously working to improve their design even after 7+ years, and how they prioritized patient care and comfort.

Saioa’s team showed us around another bioengineering lab where they developed another prototype to help the balance in stroke patients. This idea came along when the team was unable to work on the Oreka project due to the lengthy clinical trial process, and decided to create a version of the Oreka with two plates, instead of one, so patients could practice balance with their walking. This machine is still in its development phase, as it needs to be adjusted for people with longer strides. It was fun to see a project still in its early development stages, and how the researcher was actively trying to improve the project during his presentation. After touring the rehabilitation labs, we had time to tour a third lab, a mechanical engineering lab. Overall, it was a pretty productive day at the engineering school.

After stopping to eat lunch, our group went to Gexto, a neighborhood in Bilbao, and toured the famous hanging bridge. It is famous for its unique car attached underneath it, hence its name, “Hanging Bridge”. Aside from its interesting appearance, it serves as an effective way to allow ships underneath while transporting cargo from one side to the other. I was intimidated by the bridge’s height, which stood at an impressive 148 feet. However, I still enjoyed going to the top and admiring the impressive view. I love how Bilbao is filled with several unique landmarks, but I’m excited to go to Gernika tomorrow to explore another area of Basque country.