Final Activity Report Summary - ENERGYMODELREDUCTION (Proper Model Generation of Dynamic Systems using an Energy Based Model Reduction)
The primary objective of the project was the development of a physical therapy system based on virtual reality for the functional rehabilitation of arms of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Such a system would consist of symptom-related assessment procedures, such as motor coordination, fatigue, weakness, spasticity and tremor, and of force-therapy scenarios via a haptic interface device. The project results were implemented by means of a commercially available haptic interface device, through which a human could manipulate virtual objects, while gaining tactile and kinesthetic information. The goal of developing a complete rehabilitation system was not attainable given the duration and resources of the project; therefore we focused on the first component of the system that dealt with the characterisation and assessment of arm movement.
At the beginning of this work, a focus group was organised in which practicing physiotherapists participated. During the event many new ideas were generated regarding potential haptic interface based exercises and applications and the nine hole peg-board test (NHPT) was selected. Based on the focus group outcome a haptic nine hole peg-board test (H-NHPT) was designed and developed. The H-NHPT was then tested and experiments were performed by people with MS at the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics. The motion data that was acquired by these experiments helped us to develop models for the arm motions during this exercise. These models provided spatial and temporal information of the movement, which were utilised to characterise and assess the arm motion. The models were necessary for the development of the physical therapy part, which was designed under funding from other sources beyond the project duration.
At the beginning of this work, a focus group was organised in which practicing physiotherapists participated. During the event many new ideas were generated regarding potential haptic interface based exercises and applications and the nine hole peg-board test (NHPT) was selected. Based on the focus group outcome a haptic nine hole peg-board test (H-NHPT) was designed and developed. The H-NHPT was then tested and experiments were performed by people with MS at the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics. The motion data that was acquired by these experiments helped us to develop models for the arm motions during this exercise. These models provided spatial and temporal information of the movement, which were utilised to characterise and assess the arm motion. The models were necessary for the development of the physical therapy part, which was designed under funding from other sources beyond the project duration.