A virtual reality application for stroke patient rehabilitation

Virtual reality (VR) has shown promise as an intervention technique to improve motor function in individuals with stroke and neurological disorders. VR can provide a powerful human-computer interface that allows clients to interact with a virtual environment (VE) and experience a simulated world comparable to the real world (Gallichio and Kluding, 2004). One can manipulate objects in a VE using various VR peripherals, e.g., motion capture, data gloves, etc. The VE can be structured to provide stimulating audiovisual feedback that promotes motor learning and enhances participation in a rehabilitation process. VR based interventions permit rehabilitation professionals to shape target tasks according to the abilities of an individual client. VE's offer the potential of greater engagement of a client in treatment sessions and thus increase sensory feedback to enhance motor learning. In addition, the ability to gather real-time motion capture data allows therapists to quantitatively document change and assist in the diagnosis of movement dysfunction. This paper describes a software application under development that permits the delivery of customized physical therapy interventions via a variety of display types. The design and implementation of a virtual kitchen used to practice common daily-living activities is described. Joint angle data is captured as clients complete specified daily-living tasks within the VE, e.g., making a virtual cup of coffee. Client motion is visualized using a virtual "arm" that provides patient feedback within the VE. Associated motion capture data can be used to quantitatively assess the effectiveness of the VR-based physical therapy intervention within the developed software application.