Telehealth Using PoseNet-Based System for In-Home Rehabilitation

Jiaming Chua,Meng-Chew Leow,Lee-Yeng Ong

doi:10.3390/fi13070173

Jiaming Chua, Meng-Chew Leow + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/fi13070173

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Journal: Future internet	Publication Date: Jul 2, 2021
Citations: 15	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Multimedia University

Abstract

The increasing cost of healthcare services is accelerating the development of the telehealth system to fulfill the necessity of delivering an efficient and cost-effective remote healthcare services. Moreover, the ageing of the global population and the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic are creating a rapid rise of demand for healthcare services. This includes those who are in need of remote monitoring for chronic conditions through rehabilitation exercises. Therefore, this paper presents a telehealth system using PoseNet for in-home rehabilitation, with built-in statistical computation for doctors to analyze the patient’s recovery status. This system enables patients to perform rehabilitation exercises at home using an ordinary webcam. The PoseNet skeleton-tracking method is applied to detect and track the patients’ angular movements for both elbows and knees. By using this system, the measurement of the elbow and knee joint angles can be calculated and recorded while patients are performing rehabilitation exercises in front of the laptop webcam. After the patients complete their rehabilitation exercises, the skeleton results of four body parts will be generated. Based on the same actions performed by patients on selected days, the doctors can examine and evaluate the deviation rate of patients’ angular movements between different days to determine the recovery rate.

Highlights

Telehealth refers to the delivery of health-related services including medical care, health education and health information services over a distance via the use of digital information and communication technologies such as computers, laptops and mobile devices [1].Telehealth was created to overcome the physical barriers in offering healthcare services to patients and caregivers without in-person visits and to reduce the travelling challenges for patients in rural areas [2]
According to data provided by the World Health Organization (WHO), the proportion of the global population over the age of 60 will rise from 12% to a staggering 22%, almost doubling from 2015 to 2050 [3]
This paper presents a telehealth service using the PoseNet-based system for in-home rehabilitation using an ordinary webcam

Summary

Introduction

Telehealth refers to the delivery of health-related services including medical care, health education and health information services over a distance via the use of digital information and communication technologies such as computers, laptops and mobile devices [1].Telehealth was created to overcome the physical barriers in offering healthcare services to patients and caregivers without in-person visits and to reduce the travelling challenges for patients in rural areas [2]. Rapid ageing of the global population has brought unprecedented and escalating challenges to the healthcare services. According to data provided by the World Health Organization (WHO), the proportion of the global population over the age of 60 will rise from 12% to a staggering 22%, almost doubling from 2015 to 2050 [3]. These elderly, especially those with chronic conditions, are not fit to travel long distance for healthcare services. The current COVID-19 pandemic has induced the rapid adoption of telehealth and instigated adaptation and reform in the delivery of healthcare services [2]

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