Virtual Reality Technologies for Dynamic Balance Rehabilitation in People with Stroke

项目摘要/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 与跑步机训练相结合，产生可调整的平衡扰动，以改善动态平衡 中风患者也能耐受。VR继续作为一种互动和引人入胜的方式 临床医生在物理治疗过程中与患者互动，增加患者的努力，减少 设备成本。然而，目前还缺乏经过验证的可实现动态平衡的沉浸式VR系统 神经疾病患者(如中风患者)的康复方案，以改善行走时的平衡。 动态平衡的改善将降低跌倒的风险，增加机动性，并将 最终提高患者的生活质量。此外，可以在跑步机上使用的VR系统可以进行训练 BALANCE将填补尚未满足的临床需求，即进行特定任务的治疗干预，以降低跌倒的风险 中风患者。Kobuk Technologies已经开发了这样一个系统的阿尔法版本，并将发挥作用 与马奎特大学的施密特博士一起推进该系统的开发，以便对其进行测试 在中风患者身上。随后将对中风患者进行可行性研究，以确定 通过鼓励用户在踩到VR环境中到达目标来平衡系统挑战 一台跑步机。这项研究的信息将被用来建立虚拟现实系统的测试版，以提高疗效 测试。本研究第一阶段的拟议研究目标一将侧重于量化以下各项的平衡反应 在跑步机上达到身临其境的VR环境，因为这些数据是VR扩展难度所必需的 完成任务。AIM II将描述虚拟现实环境中跑步机速度和伸展速度的耦合，因为 这样一个系统的个人步行速度将是必要的。AIM III将决定 中风患者在跑步机步行过程中可以忍受身临其境的VR环境。这项研究对 用于恢复平衡的VR跑步机训练系统的开发。该项目将生产出一种虚拟现实 该系统随后可用于STTR II期疗效试验，以展示步态功能的改善 在神经科患者身上。最终，Kobuk Technologies将为临床医生创造一种新的低成本工具 他们的患者在跑步机训练期间，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.