• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.313-318
• /
• 1996

We proposed a new system for the postural balance rehabilitation training. For the purpose, we used the virtual hiking system using virtual reality technology. We evaluated the system by measuring the parameters such as path deviation, path deviation velocity, cycling time, and head movement. From our results, we verified the usefulness of virtual reality technology in rehabilitation. Our results showed that this system was effective postural balance rehabilitation training device and might be useful as the clinical equipment.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2001.10a
• /
• pp.89.3-89
• /
• 2001

Recently computer graphic technology has achieved remarkable development. Applications of this technology to various fields are expected. In this study, one application of computer graphics to the medical field is shown. We developed a rehabilitation system of hand manipulation using virtual reality aiming to offer enjoyable rehabilitation training to physically handicapped people with upper limb disabilities. This rehabilitation system generates training environments for upper limbs, such as moving balls in virtual space of computer. And by using data glove as a sophisticated input device, a user can manipulate objects in virtual space by his hand. By using this rehabilitation system, a user can have rehabilitation training under various conditions without feeling tedious.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.249-258
• /
• 2021

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze domestic and foreign studies using virtual reality or metaverse for exercise rehabilitation in order to help the disabled or elderly patients with exercise rehabilitation, and suggest a method for using metaverse for exercise rehabilitation. Method: In this study, after analyzing and discussing various information related to the metaverse and exercise rehabilitation through electronic search of recently published papers, academic journals, books, and internet websites, the exercise rehabilitation plan using the metaverse was proposed. Results: In the case of domestic research, the diversity of virtual reality application technology for the rehabilitation of disabled and elderly patients was not secured, but recently, virtual reality or metaverse-related technologies were developed and specialized in a form suitable for exercise rehabilitation. In the case of overseas studies, it was analyzed that exercise rehabilitation using virtual reality and metaverse games for the rehabilitation of disabled and elderly patients can help improve brain, physical ability, and anti-aging by activating the body and mind. Conclusion: Smart metaverse health care is actively introduced to exercise rehabilitation, metaverse telemedicine business is applied to exercise rehabilitation programs, and digital twin games and exercise rehabilitation programs developed by metaverse related companies take into account the characteristics of disabled and elderly patients. If customized smart metaverse healthcare is used for exercise rehabilitation, it is analyzed that it can lead this field.

• Journal of the Korea Computer Graphics Society
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.93-100
• /
• 2018

This paper proposes a small-scale rehabilitation system that allows stroke patients to perform daily rehabilitation training in a virtual home. Stroke patients have limited activities of daily living due to paralysis, and there are many rehabilitation exercises for them to reproduce activities that take place in the house, such as turning lights on and off, door opening and closing, gas valve locking. In this paper, we have implemented a virtual home with the above mentioned daily rehabilitation training elements, by using virtual reality technology. We use Leap Motion, a hand motion recognition device, for rehabilitation of hands and fingers. It is expected that stroke patients can rehabilitate small muscles without having to visit the clinic with uncomfortable body, and will be able to get interesting rehabilitation training by avoiding monotony of existing rehabilitation tools.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.103-114
• /
• 2023

PURPOSE: This study compared the effects of computer-based and virtual reality-based cognitive rehabilitation programs on the cognitive function, upper limb function, activities of daily living, and their impact on the prefrontal cortex in convalescent stroke patients. METHODS: Ten recovering stroke patients were assessed for their cognitive function, upper limb function, and daily living activities using the Neurobehavioral Cognitive Status Examination, the Korean version of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment, and the Korean version of the Modified Barthel Index. The prefrontal cortex activity was measured with functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy. The virtual reality-based cognitive rehabilitation group utilized a program of daily living activities delivered via a laptop and Oculus Rift. The computer-based cognitive rehabilitation group performed various cognitive tasks on an all-in-one PC. Both groups underwent cognitive rehabilitation training for 30 minutes per day, three times a week, for six weeks, with identical conventional rehabilitation therapies in the hospital. RESULTS: Both programs positively impacted the cognitive and physical functions. On the other hand, the virtual reality-based cognitive rehabilitation program had a larger influence on improving the cognitive and physical functions of convalescing stroke patients. CONCLUSION: The virtual reality program suggests its potential to enhance cognitive and physical functions in convalescent stroke patients through increased engagement, focus, real-time feedback, and game elements, making it a promising rehabilitation approach.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.69-76
• /
• 2019

Purpose : This study examined the effects of a virtual reality rehabilitation program on stroke patients' upper extremity functions and activities of daily living (ADL). Methods : The subjects were equally and randomly divided into an experimental group (n=16) to whom a virtual reality rehabilitation program was applied and a control group (n=16) who received traditional occupational therapy. The intervention was applied five times per week, 30 minutes per each time, for six weeks. Jebsen-Taylor hand function test was conducted and the subjects' Manual Function Test was measured to examine their upper extremity functions before and after the treatment intervention, and a Korean version of modified Barthel index was calculated to look at their activities of daily living. Results : After the intervention, the upper extremity functions and activities of daily living of the participants in both groups significantly improved (p<.05). However, the improvements in these parameters among the participants in the virtual reality rehabilitation program were significantly greater than those in the control group (p>.05). Conclusion : The virtual reality rehabilitation program is a stable and reliable intervention method for enhancing the upper limb functions and activities of daily living of stroke patients.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.315-322
• /
• 2009

This paper explains a control and navigation algorithm of a 6-DOF gait rehabilitation robot, which can allow a patient to navigate in virtual reality (VR) by upper and lower limbs interactions. In gait rehabilitation robots, one of the important concerns is not only to follow the robot motions passively, but also to allow the patient to walk by his/her intention. Thus, this robot allows automatic walking velocity update by estimating interaction torques between the human and the upper limb device, and synchronizing the upper limb device to the lower limb device. In addition, the upper limb device acts as a user-friendly input device for navigating in virtual reality. By pushing the switches located at the right and left handles of the upper limb device, a patient is able to do turning motions during navigation in virtual reality. Through experimental results of a healthy subject, we showed that rehabilitation training can be more effectively combined to virtual environments with upper and lower limb connections. The suggested navigation scheme for gait rehabilitation robot will allow various and effective rehabilitation training modes.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
• /
• v.9 no.8
• /
• pp.577-584
• /
• 2003

Traditional ankle rehabilitation procedures are tedious, repetitive, and require therapist's help. Therefore, they do not provide patients with good motivation to actively participate in the rehabilitation exercises. In addition, objective diagnosis and evaluation of the treatment progress have been difficult because records of exercise history are made by passive instruments from time to time. The virtual reality technology can make these procedures more fun so that patients can perform everyday rehabilitation exercises more actively. Moreover, haptics technology can give active resistance to the patients ankle motion to improve strength of muscles as well as can record ankle's motion and force histories for objective diagnosis and evaluation. This paper summarizes development of a virtual environment fur reforming the conventional ankle rehabilitation procedures. First of all, conventional rehabilitation procedures have been summarized. Secondly, haptic design and control, user interface design, virtual environment contents design are described. Lastly, mutual cooperation among many developers including medical doctors and therapists and future works are commented.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.730-737
• /
• 2014

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of virtual reality cognitive rehabilitation program on cognitive function, physical function and depression of long-term care insurance nongrading elderly dementia using Daytime protection service. For achieve this purpose, 30 dementia elderly were randomly assigned in to the experimental group(n=15)and control group(n=15). All subjects performed a general therapeutic exercise and 20- 30minutes takes virtual reality cognitive rehabilitation program were conducted with experimental group 2 times a week for 8 weeks. The intervention effects were measured by using cognitive function is mini-mental states examination-Korean version(MMSE-K), visual perception is MVPT(Motor-Free Visual Perception Test), Berg's balance scales(BBS), depression test GDS-K and lower limb strength. The results of study represented that the training group showed significant improvement in MMSEK( p<.05), visual perception(p<.05), balance(p<.05), lower limb strength(p<.05) and depression (p<.05). In conclusion, the virtual reality cognitive rehabilitation training using improves visual perception included cognitive function, physical function included balance, and lower limb strength and depression. These results suggest that virtual reality training using virtual reality cognitive rehabilitation program is feasible and suitable for mild dementia.

• Journal of Digital Contents Society
• /
• v.18 no.7
• /
• pp.1249-1257
• /
• 2017

Due to the 4th industrial revolution and an aged society, many studies are being conducted to apply virtual reality to medical field. Research on dementia is especially active. This paper proposes virtual reality based on cognitive rehabilitation contents using image recognition and clustering method to improve cognitive and physical disabilities caused by dementia. Unlike the existing cognitive rehabilitation system, this paper uses travel photos that reflect the memories of the subjects to be treated. In order to generate automated cognitive rehabilitation contents, we extract face information, food pictures, place information, and time information from photographs, and normalization is performed for clustering. And we present scenarios that can be used as cognitive rehabilitation contents using travel photos in virtual reality space.