The Feasibility of Augmented Reality as a Support Tool for Motor Rehabilitation

Abstract

The aim of this work is to facilitate the application of Augmented Reality (AR) in rehabilitative clinics to support the therapist by providing real-time AR visualizations. The feasibility of AR as a support tool in rehabilitation is explored by developing a prototype that would meet the demand of the therapists during their evaluations. In this work, a prototype which consists of two parts has been developed; one for chair training and another for walking training. Different combinations of AR technologies and concepts that would best serve the therapist’s needs in the rehabilitation and training setting are discussed. After the development phase, a qualitative user research was done through demonstrations and interviews to validate the effectiveness and feasibility. The overall feedback from the participating therapists was positive, confirming the potential of this work to be extended to everyday clinical use.