Research

Seed Grant Profile

95

2009-2010 Program

The Design of an Interactive Stroke Rehabilitation System

There is a compelling need to create an alternative and affordable home based therapy system founded on sound rehabilitative principles, that is readily available, that is engaging and motivational, and can be remotely monitored by therapists. In the past two years, stroke related medical costs have increased 20%, while the number of clinical treatment sessions has declined. The objective of this system would be to increase the number of patients engaged in home or clinic based therapeutic exercises. This phase 1 proposal effort describes the development of an affordable interactive stroke rehabilitation gaming experience based on therapeutic fundamentals that can easily be used in the clinical setting or the home environment. The hypothesis is that the functional outcome improves in stroke survivors participating in motivational affordable gaming experiences, in which fundamental rehabilitation exercises are encoded. This exceptionally innovative proposal bridges the domains of Rehabilitative Medicine, Computer Science and Engineering and specifically addresses the Assistive & Rehabilitative Device Technologies Development research priority outlined in the HSI Seed Grant RFA.

Investigators: Douglas Britton (Georgia Tech Research Institute), Steven Wolf (Emory University), Maribeth Gandy (GT, Interactive Media Technology Center)