UU researchers help stroke victims using virtual reality

A team of researchers from the University of Ulster have won a Northern Ireland Healthcare Award for their work in helping people with stroke regain use of their limbs.

Jacqueline Crosbie, Professor Suzanne McDonough and Dr Sheila Lennon from the Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Research Institute at Jordanstown along with Dr Michael McNeill from the School of Computing and Information Engineering, at Coleraine, won the accolade for Innovations in Stroke Care.

The team have developed revolutionary techniques to help people with stroke regain use of their upper limbs, with the help of virtual reality.

A pilot study has already been launched employing a low cost, virtual reality system, which allows people with stroke to be immersed in a virtual world.

Patients can practice upper limb movements in this virtual world, which can provide a more stimulating environment to relieve the boredom of repetitive tasks. The study is unique in the UK and Ireland.

“Stroke is the most common cause of disability in adults and can lead to permanent changes in a person’s life style,” explained Jacqueline Crosbie.

“It is estimated that out of the 80% of people who survive a stroke, between 30-66% will not regain use of their affected arm. This virtual reality system focuses specifically on helping stroke patients regain more use of arm and hand movement, hopefully making everyday tasks such as eating, drinking and driving possible.”

The new technology will involve the patient wearing a head-mounted display which provides a sense of immersion into a virtual world. The world could be a representation of an environment with which the patient is familiar, such as a kitchen, living room or supermarket, enabling the practice of movements needed to carry out daily chores such as making a cup of tea.

The patient will also wear a flexible glove connected to position and orientation sensors and a number of additional sensors will be attached to the patient’s shoulder. These will enable the patient’s hand and arm movements to be tracked in the virtual environment-providing visual feedback to the patient. Audio feedback in the form of a ‘virtual physiotherapist’ is also possible, offering encouragement and motivation during the tasks.

The research has been funded by NI Chest, Heart and Stroke.

(MB/SP)