A virtual reality lower-back pain rehabilitation approach: System design and user acceptance analysis

Wu Chen Su, Shih Ching Yeh, Si Huei Lee, Hsiang Chun Huang

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Low back pain (LBP) affects people of all ages and it is a very common health problem globally. Eighty percent of all people may have experienced LBP in their life. Furthermore, there is no perfect strategy which can be used to treat all kinds of LBP patients. Moreover, LBP rehabilitation takes a long period of time, while patients may lack motivation to finish the entire course of treatment. As a result, LBP poses substantial impact on individuals, organizations and society. Fortunately, the advancement of computing hardware and software offer us a virtual reality based solution in the rehabilitation field. For example, cheaper and highly accurate wearable devices can also be used to coordinate with analytical software packages in order to carry out motion tracking and measure a patient’s movement promptly and effectively. Therefore, in this study, a VR-based LBP rehabilitation system utilizing wireless sensor technologies to assist physiotherapists and patients in undertaking three stages of rehabilitation exercises for low back health is proposed. The major functions of this VR system are as follows: (1) Monitor and correct a patient’s posture to establish basic movement patterns. (2) A physiotherapist can customize appropriate rehabilitation programs for an individual patient in order to enhance muscle strength and endurance. (3) Provide supports to a patient so as to establish whole body and joint stability. A total of twenty LBP patients have been recruited for this study, and a user acceptance of technology questionnaire is used to investigate the effectiveness and efficiency of the system proposed. Participants are treated 2–3 times a week for 4–6 weeks and experimental results demonstrate that uses of this VR system for rehabilitation courses have a high degree of technology acceptance and patients are willing to continue to use this system for LBP rehabilitation in the future.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationUniversal Access in Human-Computer Interaction
Subtitle of host publicationAccess to Learning, Health and Well-Being - 9th International Conference, UAHCI 2015 Held as Part of HCI International 2015, Proceedings
EditorsConstantine Stephanidis, Margherita Antona, Constantine Stephanidis
PublisherSpringer Verlag
Pages374-382
Number of pages9
ISBN (Print)9783319206837
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015
Event9th International Conference on Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction, UAHCI 2015 Held as Part of 17th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCI International 2015 - Los Angeles, United States
Duration: 2 Aug 20157 Aug 2015

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Volume9177
ISSN (Print)0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)1611-3349

Conference

Conference9th International Conference on Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction, UAHCI 2015 Held as Part of 17th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCI International 2015
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityLos Angeles
Period2/08/157/08/15

Keywords

  • Low back pain
  • Virtual reality
  • Wireless sensor IMU

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