Development of Visual Feedback System Based on the Load on Handrails

Abstract

Patients with cerebral palsy who have gait problem need to receive gait training in order to regain the ability to walk without relying on the assistive devices including walkers or canes. It is important for the patients to recognize to how much they depend on the assistive devices by using their arms because the goal is to decrease the dependence on the assistive devices. The purpose of this study is to create a new visual feedback system for helping the patients recognize their dependence on the assistive devices. We developed the new visual feedback system, which measures the load that the patients exert on the handrails, and directly shows this load by using a display. Walking trials of the ten-meter walking test were performed with one patient who has cerebral palsy and one healthy person in order to compare the load that they exerted on the handrails. The visual feedback system was able to measure the load on the handrails and to show it to the patient while he walked. Consequently, the patient was able to recognize the load on the handrails and decreased the dependence on them. This result suggests the new visual feedback system is effective in helping patients to practice to decrease the dependence on the handrails during gait training.