MoveVRee: Effective Virtual Reality arm and hand rehabilitation at home
MoveVRee is an innovative project that uses Virtual Reality (VR) technology to rehabilitate patients with limited arm and hand functions. Through engaging and interactive VR exercises, driven by sensors, MoveVRee helps patients improve their motor skills, increase independence and recover faster. In collaboration with InMotion VR, 2M Engineering, Sint Maartenskliniek and Hankamp Rehab, we aim to develop an affordable, lightweight prototype that is easy to operate.
A Unique Approach to Virtual Reality Rehabilitation
MoveVRee’s innovation lies in its blend of personalized, data-driven training and motivational gamified VR environments. With exercises tailored to each patient’s specific needs and progress, our approach keeps challenges engaging and aligned with recovery goals. The platform not only captures precise movement data but also distinguishes compensatory movements, such as shoulder lifting to offset limitations, from true functional improvements, thus providing more meaningful insights into recovery.
The maturity of the current state of technology, combined with the ever increasing pressure on the health care system, inspires us to develop a XR based solution for people suffering from arm and/or hand problems that can serve as a basis for many other types of conditions.
Virtual Reality environment
The VR experience is carefully designed to keep patients engaged and motivated, incorporating gamified elements like rewards and challenges to make rehabilitation an enjoyable and rewarding process. This approach not only boosts physical recovery but also enhances motivation, enabling patients to experience consistent progress in a comfortable, familiar environment. With real-time feedback, MoveVRee gives therapists an in-depth look at progress, allowing them to refine treatment plans and better address individual recovery needs. A significant benefit of MoveVRee is its home-based functionality, enabling flexible virtual reality rehabilitation that reduces travel time and inconvenience, among others, for patients.
Development process
During the development process, we need to answer several important questions that are crucial to MoveVRee’s success. For example, we need to determine how many and which sensors are needed to accurately track arm, wrist and hand movements, and whether this is useful and meaningful. We will also consult with therapists to explore whether other forms of therapy, such as mirror therapy, can be integrated into the system.
In addition, it is important to understand the needs of therapists. What do they want to see and train in their patients? What data should be available to effectively monitor patient progress? This brings us to the question of how data from the VR sessions at home are fed back to the therapist so that they can properly assess the quality of movements and intensity of training. inMotion VR will provide the needed software and UX based on the Corpus VR platform, as a best practice solution.
Enhancing Movement Quality and Recovery Insights
To ensure quality movements, we address issues like muscle tension and spasms and leverage sensor technologies to measure these parameters accurately using QSense IMU Motion sensors. By capturing nuanced data, such as compensatory movement patterns, we aim to prevent potential strain, like shoulder pain from incorrect motions. Myofeedback and other advanced sensor techniques allow us to further refine therapy for each patient.
MoveVRee represents a new standard in home-based rehabilitation, bringing therapists a clearer view of each patient’s journey to recovery with a faster, more efficient approach.
Partners in innovation
The MoveVRee project is a collaboration between four specialized partners with complementary expertise:
- InMotion VR: Expert in the development of healthcare VR applications
- 2M Engineering: Specialist in sensor technology and data analysis.
- Sint Maartenskliniek: Leading rehabilitation centre with clinical expertise in arm and hand rehabilitation.
- Hankamp Rehab: Manufacturer of rehabilitation aids, providing the expertise and production facilities for the development of the hand grip module.
The MoveVRee project is made possible by funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Stimulus Programme Management. This programme stimulates innovation and economic growth in the southern Netherlands.
