Understanding implication of VR-assisted treadmill walk on gait-related indices

Increased sedentary nature of work life and motorized ambulation often causes individuals to lose their regular walking habit. However, increased sensitization towards ill-effects of such lifestyle encourage individuals to avail gym facilities providing treadmill-based exercises. Treadmill-based exercises have also reached healthcare centers for gait training. Repeated treadmill-based exercises often become monotonous. Coupling treadmill with Virtual Reality (VR) can be motivating. However, this training platform needs augmentation with devices to quantify gait through gait-related indices. Camera-based techniques can be used to measure one's gait-related indices. But, such techniques are very expensive and often pose accessibility issues in developing countries. Here, we have designed a cost-effective Sensored shoe that quantifies one's gait-related indices. Also, our treadmill-based system was synched with VR through VR-Treadmill Interface to provide realistic feel to users. Our experimental study with 14 healthy volunteers showed potential of VR-assisted treadmill walk to improve gait over its non VR-assisted counterpart.