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Motion Sensing Technology Can Aid Stroke Rehabilitation virtual rehabilitation Snowboarding

PC Pro - London, UK, Wednesday 9th, Jan 2008, 2:55AM - GestureTek has said that its motion detection technology can be used to help stroke suffers rehabilitate quickly. The company's Interactive Rehabilitation and Exercise System (IREX) uses a depth-sensing camera to track a patient's movements in 3D. By giving a stroke sufferer games to play that they control by moving their own bodies, recovery times can be dramatically improved.

"Virtual snowboarding requires the patient to tilt and use their whole body, which can help recovery," said Francis MacDougall, CTO and co-founder of GestureTek. "We've seen three times the brain activity growth using our system."

The reason for the dramatic improvement is that there's a link between the mind and competitiveness that can stimulate recovery. GestureTek's IREX system is mounted on a trolley, so it can easily be wheeled to the bottom of a patient's bed, helping rehabilitation from day one. The company is also looking into providing a service at home, by integrating its technology into set-top boxes and using webcams for motion detection. Results could then be sent electronically to a doctor.

"The doctor would automatically get information on a patient's mobility and range of motion," said MacDougall.

David Ludlow in Las Vegas