A 3D-Based Novel Framework Using Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality for Biomechanical Analysis: An Experimental Study

This study describes the framework which utilizes an augmented reality headset and computer-aided diagnostic tool which was developed to be utilized in a physical therapy center. The study was a proof of concept that included software that collected 3D images of an individual performing various physical therapy exercises and measured the biomechanical movements. The study also included an augmented reality-based baseball game developed on Unity 3D platform. The computer aided diagnostic software recorded the clinical performance and provided statistics which included gait analysis, velocity, acceleration, joint angles and speed through 3D image processing techniques. Instead of utilizing traditional measurement techniques which includes measuring flexions through Goniometer, the physical therapists could use the proposed model to track the clinical performance of an individual through Artificial Intelligence (AI) based software. This novel framework would assist the physical therapist through the patient's clinical performance by analyzing the statistics and the visual images. The developed diagnostic tool was HIPAA-compliant. The proposed software also generated a customized report before-and-after the clinical performance which assisted the physical therapist in designing further corrective exercises for the patient in ongoing clinical trials. The framework was utilized in clinical trials to examine patients diagnosed with frozen shoulders disorder. The visual stimuli were captured while using augmented reality headset. This framework developed an additional diagnostic method for an activity-based rehabilitative application. The authors predicted the average margin of error among the participants tested will be greater than 1.0.