Enhancing awareness and personification by virtual reality and multimedia means in post-stroke patients during rehabilitation

Abstract

The use of mechanical/robotic devices and of IT based applications in the post-stroke rehabilitation is one of the main challenges in applied research in health sector. Among the wide spectrum of systems, it seems that the focus is still much on the system itself, as a technological whole, and less on the key actor, that is the patient. In this paper a supporting system for post-stroke rehabilitation, based on a 2D/3D real time interface, is presented. It aims at enhancing the point of view of the patients by showing them the movements they are performing through an avatar and by presenting some qualitative aspects of the exercises that can help the patients to be more aware of, and eventually improve, their performance.