Comparison of real and virtual rehabilitation using hand measurement device based on six-axis inertial sensors

Abstract

In 2016, the number of patients with stroke is increasing in Japan. Stroke survivor's rate has doubled from 1960 to 2004 in Japan. Even though surviving from stroke, patients usually have paralyses or impairment. In recent years, new rehabilitation system with virtual reality system has been reported. It has a possibility to improve occupational therapist tasks. In the previous study, virtual reality rehabilitation system had an effect in Box and Block Test. However, a movement in virtual reality system rehabilitation was not measured quantitatively and it was not compared with real conventional rehabilitation. Rehabilitation with virtual reality system is also required to make patients same movement of conventional rehabilitation. By comparing virtual reality test motion with conventional test motion, VR device experiment has larger 30 degrees in average bending angles than imitation device performing and we examine usefulness of rehabilitation with virtual reality. This study focuses on bending motion of the middle fingers when grasping a box. To compare them, a measurement system which can measure the grasping angle was developed based on six-axis inertial sensors. Consequently, difference between two tests was observed in bending motion. We consider it is relating with physical feedback.