Academic and engineering experts have teamed up to reduce rehabilitation times for patients suffering from dystonia, stroke, and sports injuries by up to 30% with the use of video game-style technology.
The project is aimed at creating a digital environment with the use of virtual reality (VR) within rehabilitation programmes.
The technology aims at enhancing the speed and completion rates of rehabilitation by making it more stimulating and complementing traditional rehabilitation methods while also ensuring physical demands are placed on physical and occupational therapy practitioners.
The digital platform is designed as a level-based system that ensures patients complete online games to progress. It allows medical staff to track the progress of patients making use of gaming data and provide ongoing support virtually.
The technology assists patients to build upper body motor skills to enhance movement in their wrists, hands, arms, and fingers and to provide personalized activities which depend on their unique physical and cognitive impairments. For instance, those with the neurological movement disorder dystonia can practice pouring a glass of water in the virtual world without spilling a drop in reality.
The University of Strathclyde and NMIS are supporting industrial partners, Loud1Design with the development of the virtual programme and a prototype bespoke video game controller. The controller will be custom-made for each patient according to their condition and personal requirements using additive manufacturing, a form of 3D printing where an object is built one thin layer at a time, allowing for customization.
The project is coordinated by the University of Pisa which includes academic partners like the University of Malta and Oulu, University College London, and industry partners from the technology and gaming world.
Senior lecturer at the Department of Design, Manufacturing and Engineering Management at the University of Strathclyde and founder of the European Consortium Andrew Wodehouse said: “We are extremely happy to be working together with the consortium on this exciting venture, enhancing patients’ rehabilitation with the use of virtual reality GAMES adapted to their individual needs.”
“The project’s outcome will make the long process of recovery become more engaging while ensuring the performance of patients are accurately recorded, allowing measurable and specific goals to hasten the rehabilitation time. We are looking forward to the project completion as it will provide a valuable milestone for interactive technology in enhancing physical health and performance.”
Manufacturing engineer at the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, Kareema Hilton added: “This is a fantastic project that will allow us to make use of developments within the digital technology to potentially enhance healthcare. The use of additive manufacturing shows the benefits of a flexible design that can be made adaptable to a user so as to support the physical needs of an individual to assist rehabilitation.
“We’re working closely with our colleagues in the University of Strathclyde and the wider consortium, bringing expertise from a variety of backgrounds to ensure that the virtual platform and physical controller are fully reflective of each patient’s requirements.”
