In recent years, people working in the field of neurocognitive rehabilitation are demonstrating an increasing interest in technology and particularly in virtual reality applications. Physiotherapy often faces problems related to the boringness of the exercises, and to limitations of time and spaces of public health cares; rehabilitation performed in virtual reality environments could overcome these difficulties. These systems can include technology for the sense of vision, particularly for stereoscopic viewing (3D), for human tracking, but also sound and haptic devices. Through virtual environments technicians can create a set of graded exercises at increasing complexity, engaging and challenging but safe and ecologically tested areas. Virtual reality can be remotely controlled through a network connection, encouraging rehabilitation at home; at the same time a continuous and objective monitoring of progress can be reached. This thesis aims to identify the clinical-functional requirements that a virtual reality system must meet, starting from haptic and robotic technologies currently available. It focuses on neuro-motor upper limb rehabilitation applied to treat some common disabling diseases, creating exercises in multisensory environments. For this purpose an haptic device was utilized; it allows an experimental control of the stimuli, and a quantification of user performance by tracking the trajectory in each test. Six rehabilitation environments have been developed and then validated through a pilot study on volunteers, in order to highlight potential and negative aspects. This work represents a first step for the creation of customized set of exercises, with specific objectives, for a functional and motivating rehabilitation. By applying this kind of technology rehabilitation service could be improved, while recording and providing objective parameters for the evaluation of the functional recovery of the patient.
Negli ultimi anni i ricercatori che lavorano nel campo della riabilitazione neuro-cognitiva hanno dimostrato un interesse crescente verso il mondo della tecnologia ed in particolare verso le applicazioni della realtà virtuale. In campo fisioterapico una soluzione ai problemi di monotonia degli esercizi, limitazioni del servizio ospedaliero e costi può essere rappresentata dall’utilizzo di scenari di riabilitazione creati in ambienti di realtà virtuale. Questi sistemi sono generalmente composti da strumenti per la creazione di scenari immersivi come il tracciamento della persona, la visione stereoscopica (3D), impianti per la riproduzione audio e dispositivi haptic. Tramite l’esistenza di questi ambienti virtuali i tecnici possono ricreare esercizi a graduata e crescente complessità, in ambienti di volta in volta mutevoli, ma sicuri ed ecologicamente validi. La realtà virtuale si presta inoltre all’utilizzo da remoto attraverso una normale connessione di rete, permettendo quindi un abbattimento dei costi e favorendo una riabilitazione a domicilio, nonché un costante ed oggettivo monitoraggio dei progressi. La tesi ha come obiettivo quello di identificare le esigenze clinico-funzionali che un sistema di realtà virtuale deve soddisfare, partendo dall’osservazione e studio delle tecnologie robotiche e aptiche attualmente utilizzate. Si focalizza in modo particolare sulla riabilitazione neuro–motoria dell’arto superiore a seguito di alcune tra le più comuni patologie invalidanti, creando esercizi in ambienti multisensoriali. A tale scopo si utilizza un dispositivo haptic che, oltre a permettere un controllo sperimentale degli stimoli, consente una quantificazione della performance dell’utente attraverso il tracciamento della traiettoria. L'ambiente realizzato è stato successivamente validato mediate test sull’usabilità, al fine di evidenziare potenzialità e aspetti negativi. Il progetto vuole creare le basi per la realizzazione di set di esercizi personalizzabili, con obiettivi definiti, in un contesto funzionale e motivante. In questo modo le terapie future potranno ridurre i tempi di riabilitazione, fornendo al contempo parametri oggettivi per la valutazione del recupero funzionale del paziente.
Sviluppo di esercizi riabilitativi in ambienti di realtà virtuale multisensoriali
ROMAGNOLI, CATERINA
2013/2014
Abstract
In recent years, people working in the field of neurocognitive rehabilitation are demonstrating an increasing interest in technology and particularly in virtual reality applications. Physiotherapy often faces problems related to the boringness of the exercises, and to limitations of time and spaces of public health cares; rehabilitation performed in virtual reality environments could overcome these difficulties. These systems can include technology for the sense of vision, particularly for stereoscopic viewing (3D), for human tracking, but also sound and haptic devices. Through virtual environments technicians can create a set of graded exercises at increasing complexity, engaging and challenging but safe and ecologically tested areas. Virtual reality can be remotely controlled through a network connection, encouraging rehabilitation at home; at the same time a continuous and objective monitoring of progress can be reached. This thesis aims to identify the clinical-functional requirements that a virtual reality system must meet, starting from haptic and robotic technologies currently available. It focuses on neuro-motor upper limb rehabilitation applied to treat some common disabling diseases, creating exercises in multisensory environments. For this purpose an haptic device was utilized; it allows an experimental control of the stimuli, and a quantification of user performance by tracking the trajectory in each test. Six rehabilitation environments have been developed and then validated through a pilot study on volunteers, in order to highlight potential and negative aspects. This work represents a first step for the creation of customized set of exercises, with specific objectives, for a functional and motivating rehabilitation. By applying this kind of technology rehabilitation service could be improved, while recording and providing objective parameters for the evaluation of the functional recovery of the patient.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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2014_12_Romagnoli.pdf
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https://hdl.handle.net/10589/100004