Virtual Reality Technologies for Dynamic Balance Rehabilitation in People with Stroke

项目总结/摘要 该项目旨在量化和建立沉浸式虚拟现实（VR）软件的元素，当 与跑步机训练配对，产生平衡扰动，可按比例调整，以改善动态平衡 并且中风患者可以耐受。VR继续被用作一种互动和参与的方式， 临床医生在物理治疗期间与患者互动，增加患者付出的努力， 设备费用。然而，缺乏一个经过验证的沉浸式VR系统，可用于动态平衡 神经系统患者的康复方案，如中风患者，以改善行走时的平衡。 动态平衡的改善将降低福尔斯的风险，增加活动性， 最终提高患者的生活质量。此外，一款可以在跑步机上进行训练的VR系统 平衡将填补任务特异性治疗干预的未满足的临床需求，以降低福尔斯的风险， 中风患者Kobuk Technologies已经开发了这样一个系统的alpha版本， 与马奎特大学的施密特博士一起推进系统的开发，以便进行测试 在中风患者中。然后将在中风患者中进行可行性研究，以确定 该系统通过鼓励用户在踩到VR环境中的目标时达到目标来挑战平衡 跑步机这项研究的信息将用于构建VR系统的测试版，以提高疗效。 试验.本STTR第I阶段拟议研究的目的I将侧重于量化平衡反应， 在跑步机上达到沉浸式VR环境，因为这些数据需要缩放VR的难度 达成任务。目标II将描述跑步机速度和VR环境中到达的耦合， 对于这样的系统，单独的行走速度是必要的。目标三将决定 中风患者在跑步机上行走时可以忍受沉浸式VR环境。这项研究对于 开发用于平衡康复的VR跑步机训练系统。该项目将产生一个VR 该系统可用于STTR II期疗效试验，以证明步态功能的改善 在神经病患者中。最终，Kobuk Technologies将为临床医生创造一种新的低成本工具， 他们的病人在跑步机训练，这将大大提高步态康复的有效性。

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT This project aims to quantify and establish elements of immersive virtual reality (VR) software that, when paired with treadmill training, produce balance perturbations that can be scaled to improve dynamic balance and are tolerated by people with stroke. VR continues to be used as an interactive and engaging way for clinicians to interact with patients during physical therapy, increasing effort given by patients and reducing costs of equipment. There lacks, however, a proven immersive VR system that works for dynamic balance rehabilitation protocols for neurological patients, such as those with stroke, to improve balance during walking. Improvements in dynamic balance would lead to a decreased risk of falls, increased mobility, and would ultimately improve quality of life for patients. In addition, a VR system that can be used on a treadmill to train balance would fill an unmet clinical need for task-specific therapeutic interventions to reduce the risk of falls in people with stroke. Kobuk Technologies has developed an alpha version of such a system and will work together with Dr. Schmit at Marquette University to advance development of the system so that it can be tested in people with stroke. A feasibility study will then be conducted in people with stroke to ascertain how the system challenges balance by encouraging users to reach for targets in the VR environment while stepping on a treadmill. Information from this study will then be used to build a beta version of the VR system for efficacy testing. Aim I of the proposed research in this STTR Phase I will focus on quantifying balance responses to reaching in an immersive VR environment on a treadmill, as these data are required scaling difficulty of the VR reaching tasks. Aim II will characterize the coupling of treadmill speed and reach in a VR environment since individual walking speeds for such a system will be necessary. Aim III will determine the length of time that people with stroke tolerate an immersive VR environment during treadmill stepping. This research is critical to the development of a VR treadmill training system for the rehabilitation of balance. The project will yield a VR system that can then be used in an STTR Phase II efficacy trial to demonstrate improvements in gait function in neurologic patients. Ultimately, Kobuk Technologies will create a new low cost tool for clinicians to use with their patients during treadmill training that will substantially enhance the effectiveness of gait rehabilitation.