DC VR Simulation as a Motivator in Gait Rehabilitation
2019 IEEE Conference on Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces (VR), page 1383-1384. IEEE, (2019)DOI: 10.1109/VR.2019.8797872
Abstract
Gait rehabilitation is a necessary process for patients suffering from post-stroke motor impairments. The patients are required to perform repetitive practices using a robot-assisted gait device. Repeated exercises can become extremely frustrating and the patients lose their motivation over time. In my PhD research, I focus on Virtual Reality (VR) as a medium to improve gait rehabilitation in terms of enjoyment, motivation, efficiency, and effectiveness. The objective is to systematically investigate different factors, such as the presence of a trainer, interactivity, gamification, and storytelling in a two-step process. First, by evaluating the applicability of different factors for the clinical use with healthy subjects. Second, by evaluating the effectiveness of the VR simulation with patients with gait deficits, especially stroke patients in collaboration with a country clinic.
