A COMPUTER - BASED VIRTUAL REHABILITATION PLATFORM USING KINECT SENSOR FOR CEREBRAL PALSY: FIZIO

In this paper: FIZIO, a computer based virtual rehabilitation was developed using Microsoft’s Kinect Sensor to treat the Cerebral Palsy. Cerebral Palsy is a neurological disorder caused by a non-progressive brain injury or malformation that occurs while the child’s brain is under development. Cerebral Palsy primarily affects body movement and muscle coordination. This could be treated with physiotherapy. Normally People with cerebral palsy don’t want to visit rehabilitation centres regularly as the sessions are too costly as equipments used in the rehabilitation process are very expensive to be used at homes or the clinics are far away from their homes. Conventional therapy doesn’t engage and motivate people. The exercises are too monotonous and repetitive. Also there exists no medium through which the patients and doctors can track each patient’s progress. To overcome these problems FIZIO was developed (an easy-to-use virtual rehabilitation platform designed to aid the rehabilitation process, and track patients' progress). It aims to make physiotherapy fun and convenient by transforming existing physical therapy exercises into3D-full body motion sensing video-games using Microsoft’s Kinect sensor to track and assess patient’s compliance. Designed with physical and occupational therapists, each exercise and activity is programmed to maximize recovery in a safe environment. The cognitive and motor activity required in 3D-full body motion sensing games will make the entire process engaging and hence keep patients fit, active and feeling lively. This will lead to (1) a reduction of rehab session costs, (2) flexibility of time of use, (3) reduce added injuries during transportation, (4)allow for live chat access to medical assistance anytime. In addition, Fizio can also be used as a networking tool to share experiences. The physicians and therapists can follow-up the patient's improvement online via. Fizio. Fizio brings the rehabilitation process out of the confines of hospitals and a patient may use it in 'whenever-wherever' way.