Design and Testing of a Telerehabilitation System for Motor Re-Training using a Virtual Environment

Author

Holden, Maureen K. ; Dyar, Thomas A. ; Dayan-Cimadoro, Lilian

Author_Institution

Dept. of Phys. Therapy, Northeastern Univ., Boston, MA

fYear

0

fDate

0-0 0

Firstpage

134

Lastpage

139

Abstract

In this paper we describe our experience in designing and testing a virtual environment based (VE) telerehabilitation system. The system allows a therapist to conduct interactive treatment sessions remotely with a patient who is located at home. Some of the technical and practical issues encountered during development and testing are described, as well as how we adapted the system to allow training of more skilled hand functions. Preliminary results of the first 12 subjects with stroke to use the system showed significant gains in upper extremity function following 30 one-hr treatment sessions (Fugl-Meyer, p<0.0001; Wolf Motor p=0.0097; shoulder (p=0.0027) and grip (p=0.025) strength. These changes were maintained, for the most part, at 4-month follow-up

Keywords

computer based training; distributed processing; medical computing; patient rehabilitation; patient treatment; telemedicine; virtual reality; motor retraining; remote interactive treatment sessions; stroke patient; telerehabilitation system; therapy; upper extremity function; virtual environment; Drives; Extremities; Helium; Hospitals; Medical services; Medical treatment; Road transportation; Shoulder; System testing; Virtual environment;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Virtual Rehabilitation, 2006 International Workshop on

Conference_Location

New York, NY

Print_ISBN

1-4244-0280-8

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/IWVR.2006.1707541

Filename

1707541