Study on the content development of the exercise programs for rehabilitation using the motion recognition technology

Abstract

This study was conducted to present the development direction of the contents of rehabilitation exercise program for person with disabilities using motion recognition technology. Through the literature review, we selected for those who needed rehabilitation service focusing on exercise. They have difficulties in an exercise for the upper extremity, learning and mobility within a community due to physical and mental disability, brain injury and autism. To set a goal for rehabilitation exercise program, we analyzed preceding literature related to the needs of the disabled persons and 17 evaluation tools for daily living skills in occupational therapy. Accordingly, the goal was set for improving activities of daily living and the goal activities specifically focused on dressing/taking offclothes, eating and personal hygiene. Then, the functional motion elements consisting of each activity and their levels were defined and analyzed. In the rehabilitation program, the motion elements of the goal activity that could be measured by motion recognition sensor were presented. The motion elements of the goal activity involved muscle strength and range of motion that could be measured, so that the development direction of rehabilitation exercise program contents was specifically presented for improving daily living skills. The study presented the possibility that virtual reality program contents developed for rehabilitation for the disabled could attribute to not only simple physical and/or cognitive improvement but also to the actual daily living skills.