Estimating Forearm Axial Rotation Using Vive Trackers for Interaction With Serious Games

One of the most common upper limb dysfunction seen among cerebral palsy children is the limited supination or pronation of the forearm, thus training forearm axial rotation is a common demand for interventions. We propose a method to estimate forearm axial rotation using commercially available tracking device HTC Vive tracker to support interaction with serious games with forearm axial rotation movement for rehabilitation in clinic or home environment. The proposed method provides an easy-to-access and affordable way for forearm axial angle estimation when arm is at different positions relative to torso and when tracking devices are worn in different orientations. Effectiveness of the proposed method is examined, and a serious game system that uses the method for interaction is designed which was installed in The First Hospital of Jilin University as an option of forearm movement practices for children with cerebral palsy.