Exploring the bases for a mixed reality stroke rehabilitation system, Part I: A unified approach for representing action, quantitative evaluation, and interactive feedback

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Nicole Lehrer, Arizona State University; Suneth Attygalle, Arizona State University; Steven L Wolf, Emory University; Thanassis Rikakis, Arizona State University
• Language: English
• Date: 2011-08-30
• Publisher: BioMed Central
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2011 Lehrer et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
• Final Published Version (URL): http://www.jneuroengrehab.com/content/8/1/51
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation
• ISSN: 1743-0003
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 51
• Start Page: 1
• End Page: 15
• Research Categories: Engineering, Biomedical

Abstract

Background Although principles based in motor learning, rehabilitation, and human-computer interfaces can guide the design of effective interactive systems for rehabilitation, a unified approach that connects these key principles into an integrated design, and can form a methodology that can be generalized to interactive stroke rehabilitation, is presently unavailable. Results This paper integrates phenomenological approaches to interaction and embodied knowledge with rehabilitation practices and theories to achieve the basis for a methodology that can support effective adaptive, interactive rehabilitation. Our resulting methodology provides guidelines for the development of an action representation, quantification of action, and the design of interactive feedback. As Part I of a two-part series, this paper presents key principles of the unified approach. Part II then describes the application of this approach within the implementation of the Adaptive Mixed Reality Rehabilitation (AMRR) system for stroke rehabilitation. Conclusions The accompanying principles for composing novel mixed reality environments for stroke rehabilitation can advance the design and implementation of effective mixed reality systems for the clinical setting, and ultimately be adapted for home-based application. They furthermore can be applied to other rehabilitation needs beyond stroke.