Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Shigemitsu Sakuma is a pioneering researcher in the intersection of rehabilitation robotics and orofacial pain management. His work centers on developing and validating novel, technology-driven treatments for temporomandibular disorders (TMD), with a specific focus on myofascial pain in the masseter and temporal muscles. Sakuma’s major contributions include the creation of an oral rehabilitation robot designed to deliver precise, repeatable massage therapy—a groundbreaking approach that replaces subjective manual techniques with objective, quantifiable treatment. To optimize this robotic therapy, he introduced the use of sonographic elastography, allowing clinicians to measure muscle stiffness and predict treatment efficacy. His most cited work, "Use of sonographic elastography of the masseter muscles for optimizing massage pressure" (49 citations), established a key metric—the Masseter Stiffness Index—linking tissue hardness to comfortable, effective massage pressure. Subsequent studies (with 48, 29, and 26 citations) demonstrated the robot’s safety and efficacy in TMD patients, showing significant improvements in pain and muscle hardness. By combining robotics, ultrasound imaging, and clinical outcomes, Sakuma has laid the foundation for a new era of personalized, evidence-based physical therapy for chronic jaw pain.