Backtrainer. Computer-aided therapy system with augmented feedback for the lower back

Low back pain is an important problem in industrialized countries. Two key factors limit the effectiveness of physiotherapy: low compliance of patients with repetitive movement exercises, and inadequate awareness of patients of their own posture. The Backtrainer system addresses these problems by real-time monitoring of the spine position, by providing a framework for most common physiotherapy exercises for the low back, and by providing feedback to patients in a motivating way. A minimal sensor configuration was identified as two inertial sensors that measure the orientation of the lower back at two points with three degrees of freedom. The software was designed as a flexible platform to experiment with different hardware, and with various feedback modalities. Basic exercises for two types of movements are provided: mobilizing and stabilizing. We developed visual feedback - abstract as well as in the form of a virtual reality game - and complemented the on-screen graphics with an ambient feedback device. The system was evaluated during five weeks in a rehabilitation clinic with 26 patients and 15 physiotherapists. Subjective satisfaction of subjects was good, and we interpret the results as encouraging indication for the adoption of such a therapy support system by both patients and therapists.

Schlagwörter

Back pain, Physiotherapy, Computer-aided therapy, Augmented feedback, Ambient visualization

Fachgebiet (DDC)

600 - Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften

Projekt

Veranstaltung

HEALTHINF 2009 International Conference on Health Informatics

Startdatum der Ausstellung

Enddatum der Ausstellung

Startdatum der Konferenz

14.01.2009

Enddatum der Konferenz

17.01.2009

Datum der letzten Prüfung

ISBN

978-989-8111-63-0

ISSN

Sprache

Englisch

Während FHNW Zugehörigkeit erstellt

Ja

Zukunftsfelder FHNW

Publikationsstatus

Veröffentlicht

Begutachtung

Peer-Review der ganzen Publikation

Open Access-Status

Green

Lizenz

Zitation

BRODBECK, Dominique, Markus DEGEN, Michael STANIMIROV, Jan KOOL, Mandy SCHEERMESSER, Peter OESCH und Cornelia NEUHAUS, 2009. Backtrainer. Computer-aided therapy system with augmented feedback for the lower back. In: Luis AZEVEDO und Ana LONDRAL (Hrsg.), Proceedings of the International Conference on Health Informatics BIOSTEC. Porto: SciTePress. 2009. S. 66–73. ISBN 978-989-8111-63-0. Verfügbar unter: https://doi.org/10.26041/fhnw-10355

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