This photo provided by Samsung Medical Center shows the hospital’s AR-based rehab program.
SEOUL, Aug. 23 (Korea Bizwire) — Samsung Medical Center, one of South Korea’s top general hospitals, said Monday it had introduced a home training program based on augmented reality (AR) technology for the rehabilitation of stroke patients.
The program uses a sensor attached to an AR monitor installed in patients’ homes.
The sensor automatically checks their exercise records and sends the information to the hospital. Professional medical staff at the hospital then offer feedback.
After a month spent analyzing the effects of the AR-based program on 68 cerebral stroke patients, the hospital’s research team found that the program scored 1 to 2 points higher on average compared to existing home training programs in light of the quality of life and balancing function.
“The AR rehabilitation program adds a sense of reality using 3-dimensional virtual images. Accordingly, there were no falls during exercise and the patients showed improvement in psychological stability,” said Chang Won-hyuk, a professor of rehabilitation medicine at Samsung Medical Center.
“We expect this program to contribute to improving the effect of personally customized rehabilitation treatments for stroke patients.”
The results of this study were published in the latest edition of the international academic journal Disability and Rehabilitation.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
