RehabFork: An Interactive Game-assisted Upper Limb Stroke Rehabilitation System
Summary
This study introduces RehabFork, a game-assisted system for stroke survivors to retrain upper-limb function for eating tasks. The system uses instrumented utensils and a pressure pad to provide adaptive gameplay for improved rehabilitation outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation Engineering
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Stroke often impairs upper-limb function, affecting daily activities like eating.
- Current rehabilitation methods may lack engagement and personalized feedback.
- Task-specific training is crucial for motor recovery after stroke.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and develop RehabFork, a game-assisted system for upper-limb stroke rehabilitation.
- To enable patients to train functional eating-related tasks, specifically utensil manipulation.
- To create an engaging and adaptive rehabilitation experience.
Main Methods:
- Development of instrumented fork and knife, and a 3D printed pressure pad.
- Integration of sensor data into an interactive gaming environment.
- Implementation of adaptive game difficulty based on user performance and disability level.
Main Results:
- The RehabFork system successfully supports training for grasping, lifting, and cutting with utensils.
- The gaming environment provides real-time performance feedback and adjusts difficulty.
- User performance data is captured and can be shared for clinical oversight.
Conclusions:
- Game-assisted rehabilitation systems like RehabFork can enhance engagement in stroke recovery.
- Task-specific training using instrumented tools offers a novel approach to upper-limb rehabilitation.
- The RehabFork system demonstrates potential for personalized and motivating stroke rehabilitation.
