Rehabilitation for stroke patients benefits from film technology

Treatment and rehabilitation for stroke patients may soon be given the Hollywood movie treatment, as a team from Lancaster University Medical School has explored the benefits of performance capture technology.

Dr. Hannah Jarvis and Dr. Phil Nagy of Lancaster University Medical School are using the same technology that was used to create on-screen characters such as Gollum from Lord of the Rings and the aliens in Avatar.

The technique involves applying retro-reflective markers to the body, which are then tracked by infra-red cameras to create a 3D computer model of a moving skeleton on a screen.

They are applying technology to research on movement and motion to improve the treatment and rehabilitation of stroke patients and injured athletes.

By understanding more about these movements, more personalized rehabilitation plans can be designed. Ultimately, the research aims to enable the technology to be used at home – where stairs and rugs will allow movement tracking to be as realistic as possible.

Jarvis previously used the technology to help people crippled by the conflict in Afghanistan. She was the first researcher to publish biomechanical data on this group of giants and is now exploring how the technology can be used to help others.

He said the technique could be used “to model the lower limbs of a stroke survivor, where we can measure the physiological cost of walking by how much effort is needed to walk”.

“We will be able to measure joint angles and forces at different joints while looking at a model moving on a screen. This can be used to design patient rehabilitation.

“Also many elderly people have fallen and have trouble getting up, so tracking their movements will help us collect data on muscle activity and build up a biomedical profile that can inform rehabilitation. “

The researchers are currently working with North West stroke charities Speakeasy and Think Ahead and are also seeking commercial partnerships to develop a medical device incorporating performance capture technology.

Incorporating technology into stroke rehabilitation has also been a focus of virtual reality company Neuromassive, which earlier this year teamed up with Askum Village – a rehabilitation provider – to test its immersive and engaging neurorehabilitation products with patients recovering from stroke .