Avatars help rehabilitation patients
Checking the movements to ensure they are being performed correctly
A real-time, remote system using avatars to help people undertake rehabilitation in their own home is being developed by Monash University’s School of Rural Health for a Gippsland municipality.
Bill Haigh, who works on E-learning, research and innovations at the School of Rural Health’s Gippsland Regional Clinical School, along with Associate Professor Helen McBurney, is undertaking the project commissioned by Baw Baw Shire in West Gippsland as part of the Victorian Government’s Transport Connections Program.
Baw Baw Transport Connections Facilitator, Stephen Pykett, has worked with Mr Haig in bringing the concept to reality for residents of Baw Baw Shire who will be able to access rehabilitation services and overcome transport disadvantage.
It is a kinetic program delivered on computer in the home. The client undergoing rehabilitation watches a series of exercises delivered by the avatar that mimic movement. The client then follows the avatar movement to perform relevant exercises.
The client’s activities are monitored and analysed in real time by the program and rehabilitation staff. If the client is performing as expected and meets relevant targets, they continue to work with the program.
If they are having difficulty with any exercises, there is a signal to staff to make adjustments.
At the moment staff are creating the movements required to construct the stick-figure avatars.
Mr Haigh, who has been working on developing this system for about 18 months, said one of the major benefits of the program was it could be used by those normally not able to access home help because they lived well out of town.
“It means the staff can monitor and instruct the client as necessary without incurring the costs for transport,” he said.
“As well the clients don’t have to tap or touch anything to do the exercises. That requirement to physically touch something can sometimes lead to jarring of a limb which is not ideal for rehabilitation. This system is much easier on the patient.”
Mr Haigh said he had been trialling the program and had “a strong belief that it will work in a wide variety of situations.”