Design research for user-friendly guidance of complex whole-body rehabilitation for lower extremity amputees by means of extended reality and advanced wearables data processing

Homepage of the project: https://lindalancere.wixsite.com/arehab

Updated on 15.03.2022

The project deals with two rehabilitation challenges that affect both patients - people with amputations of lower extremities (hereinafter CAEA) and their physiotherapists. The first are curring and insufficiently effective rehabilitation process, the second being the limited scope for processing, interpreting and understandable use of the amount of data generated during the rehabilitation process.

The aim of the project is therefore to develop an extended reality solution that would implement a new rehabilitation method, innovative wearing technologies and medical know-how algorithms that would enhance the quality of of life CAEA, accelerate rehabilitation and reintegrate into society and work.Combining deep musculoskeletal training with diaphragmatic breathing techniques will increase body stability and reduce CAEA's inherent risk of falling, back pain, cardiovascular and respiratory complications. In addition, the technological solution will provide long-term rehabilitation monitoring, real-time full-body monitoring and user-driven easy-to-understand rehabilitation management for people with limited capabilities. Activities: development and validation of a new rehabilitation method, tests for the interoperability of wearable technologies, development of an extended reality solution, tests for the users of the solution, mobility and dissemination of results.

The project will result in the development of a prototype forextended user tests and the assessment of readiness for commercialisation, as well as an in-depth knowledge of the needs and limitations of CAEA during rehabilitation, an in-depth knowledge from a scientific point of view that could reveal and demonstrate a new approach on body performance principles and relationships.

Post-doctoral research aid

Project manager: Dr.sc. ing. Linda Lancere (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

Type of project: ERDF

Project implementation time: 02.01.2019. - 30.12.2021.

Project number: 1.1.1.2/VIAA/2/18/357

Project activities:

The first year of the project involves an in-depth study of technology, rehabilitation methodologies, surveys of potential users, with a view to developing a user-oriented solution. An analysis and selection of the conformity of wearing technologies have been carried out, identifying technologies that are capable of ensuring objective entry, movement during data rehabilitation, vital parameters such as pulse, breathing, muscle activity, blood pressure and real-time recording of other data. Smart textile tests have been carried out for the acquisition and display of respiratory techniques in extended reality. A rehabilitation programme shall be drawn up and the requirements necessary for the implementation of user tests shall be fulfilled. 

Main activities of the project:

1. Participation in the virtual and supplemented reality software development AR/VR hackathon Valmiera, Latvia (26-28.04 .2019)
2. Drawing up a description for sub-activity "WP2.1. Sub-activity. Analysis of existing modern rehabilitation, expanded reality and wearable technologies." within the framework of sub-activity ''WP2. Development of the rehabilitation method." (06.2019)
3. Drawing up a description for sub-activity "WP2.2. Sub-activity. Interviews with physiotherapists and people on AEA." within the framework of sub-activity "WP2. Development of the rehabilitation method." The content will be updated by the end of the project (06.2019).
4. Drawing up a description for sub-activity "WP2.3. Sub-activity. Development of Rehabilitation Method." within the framework of sub-activity "WP2. Development of the rehabilitation method." (06.2019)
5. Drawing up a description for sub-activity "WP2.4. Sub-activity. Technology and sensor tests." within the framework of sub-activity "WP2. Development of the rehabilitation method." (06.2019)
6. Drawing up a description for sub-activity "WP3.1. Sub-activity. Developing Concept." within the framework of sub-activity "WP3. Development of an enlarged environment." (06.2019)
7. Presentation at the Post-doctoral monthly seminar with the latest results report "Design Research for User-friendly Guidance of Complex Whole-body Rehabilitation for Lower Extremity Amputees by Means of Extended Reality and Advanced Wearables Data Processing" (18.6.2019.)
8. Drawing up a description for sub-activity "WP4.1. Sub-activity. Development of patient testing protocol." within the framework of sub-activity "WP4. Tests and prototyping." The content will be supplemented (07.2019)
9. Drawing up a description for sub-activity "WP4.2. Sub-activity. Looking for patients for testing, ethics." within the framework of sub-activity "WP4. Tests and prototyping." The content will be supplemented (07.2019)
10. Implementation of the mobility phase Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA (15.08.2019. -15.08 .2020)
11. Drawing up a description for sub-activity "WP4.2. Sub-activity. Looking for patients for testing, ethics." within the framework of sub-activity "WP4. Tests and prototyping." The content will be supplemented. (08.2019)
12. Drawing up a description for sub-activity "WP4.1. Sub-activity. Development of patient testing protocol.within the framework of sub-activity" within the framework of sub-activity "WP4. Tests and prototyping." The content will be supplemented. (08.2019)
13. Analysis of the scientific literature for the sub-activities "WP3.1 and 3.2. Development of the concept of extended reality and developing a virtual environment design and scenario for use in the augmented reality." within the framework of sub-activity "WP3. Development of an enlarged environment." The content will be supplemented. (09.2019)
14. Laboratory tests for wearing technologies (Hexaskin and Delsys) for sub-activity "WP4.3. Sub-activity. Rehabilitation study in patients." The content will be supplemented. (09.2019)
15. Presentation RSU Health hackathon with final results. (26.10.2019.)
16. Development of a minimum viable prototype scenario under the modified rehabilitation programme and the Delsys and Plux tests carried out, user tests for sub-activities "WP3.1.1 and 3.2. Development of the concept of extended reality and developing a virtual environment design and scenario for use in the augmented reality." within the framework of sub-activity "WP3. Development of an enlarged environment." The content will be supplemented. (10-12.2019)
17. Development of a minimum viable prototype scenario under the modified rehabilitation programme and the Delsys and Plux tests carried out, user tests for sub-activity "D4.3. Sub-activity. Development of patient testing protocol." within the framework of sub-activity "WP4. Tests and prototyping within". (11.2019)
18. Minimum viable prototype scenario programming for sub-activity "WP3.3. Extended Reality Basic Solution Programming" within the framework of sub-activity "WP3 Activities. Development of an enlarged environment."The content will be supplemented. (10-12.2019)
19. Adjustments to the application of the Ethics Commission according to the results of user tests for sub-activity "WP4.2. Sub-activity. Looking for patients for testing, ethics." within the framework of sub-activity "WP4. Trials and prototyping." (10-11.2019)
20. A visit to the conference on the latest AR and VR achievements "AR/VR Global Summit” in Vancouver, Canada. (1-2.11.2019)
21. Laboratory testing of users for sub-activity using Delsys and Plux sensors for sub-activity "WP4.3. Rehabilitation study in patients." within the framework of sub-activity "WP4. Tests and prototyping." The content will be supplemented (11-12.2019)
22. Presentation at the Post-doctoral monthly seminar with the latest results report "Design Research for User-friendly Guidance of Complex Whole-body Rehabilitation for Lower Extremity Amputees by Means of Extended Reality and Advanced Wearables Data Processing" (16.12.2019.)
23. User tests in laboratory conditions in frames of “WP4. Testing and prototyping.WP4.3. Patient trials.” activity. Muscle activity during deep muscle exercise evaluation using Delsys wireless sensors and Hololens visualizations (1-3.2020.)
24. Volunteering in "American Prosthetics and Orthotics" (1.2020.)
25. Volunteering in "University Hospital of Iowa City" Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation clinic, working with amputees (2.2020.)
26. Game scenario development based on sensor and user tests in frames of “WP3.1. Modelling basis of the concept and WP3.2.Scenario development and VR design creation for application in augmented reality environment. ” activities (1-3.2020.)