They develop a rehabilitation program based on augmented reality

Researchers from the University of Burgos have developed an application to improve physical rehabilitation exercises and inform the patient about their evolution. The program uses augmented reality technology, that incorporates computer data into the real vision of the environment.

Oscar Zorrilla, student of Technical Engineering in Computer Science Management University of Burgos, has developed a computer application to improve the physical rehabilitation exercises that a patient has to do. Rehabilit-AR is a program that is based on augmented reality technology, so that a webcam captures the movements and the application evaluates whether they are appropriate.

“Currently, rehabilitation exercises are performed manually and subjectively, It is the professional in charge of rehabilitation who tells the patient if he is doing well or badly according to his perception, but it could be done in a more rigorous way”, Óscar Zorrilla explained in statements to DiCYT.

Based on this idea, the researcher developed the application. Movements are captured through a web camera, usually from the extremities, and the program checks if the movement of an arm, For example, reaches the upper end and the lower end that have been previously marked as key points to execute a certain movement. The system stores this information and can transform it into graphics that, with the passing of the days, They offer data on the evolution of the person carrying out the rehabilitation.

Incentive to do the exercises

The patient can see how you perform the exercises and, in the case of children, This tool can become an incentive to get them to collaborate in the sessions, since it makes the exercises much more attractive. In fact, “We are thinking of adding activities or games that help execute the movements”, has pointed out.

Óscar Zorilla's final year project was based on this idea, which was selected for one of the scholarships for the development of a marketable prototype by the Knowledge Transfer Office of the General Foundation and the Research Results Transfer Office (OTC-OTRI)from the University of Burgos, which has also helped him register the program. This is an initiative promoted by the University-Business Knowledge Transfer Program (T-CUE) of the Government of Castilla y León.

Currently, This line of research has entered a new phase whose goal is to achieve a product that hits the market and can be useful. Two new partners have joined this phase, Daniel Ballesteros and Ana Isabel Fernández.

New phase with the aim of going to market

One of the main technological challenges of this prototype was for the program to recognize the reference points when executing the movements by the patient.. In principle, Óscar Zorrilla had to design his own two-dimensional codes (like the already popular QR codes) for this purpose. The idea was to attach them to the person who would execute the movements.

However, In the new phase in which the project is, it has opted to use a technology already developed and well known for the Xbox video game console.: Kinect, that allows you to play only by interpreting the participant's movements, without controls or any other element. “Provides more precision and comfort”, has stated.

Although the movements of the extremities are the most developed part, The development of the program could be adapted to the needs that potential clients may detect, as explained by the computer engineer.