title: Improving vision-based motor rehabilitation interactive systems for users with disabilities using mirror feedback.
abstract: Observation is recommended in motor rehabilitation. For this reason, the aim of this study was to experimentally test the feasibility and benefit of including mirror feedback in vision-based rehabilitation systems: we projected the user on the screen. We conducted a user study by using a previously evaluated system that improved the balance and postural control of adults with cerebral palsy. We used a within-subjects design with the two defined feedback conditions (mirror and no-mirror) with two different groups of users (8 with disabilities and 32 without disabilities) using usability measures (time-to-start (T(s)) and time-to-complete (T(c))). A two-tailed paired samples t-test confirmed that in case of disabilities the mirror feedback facilitated the interaction in vision-based systems for rehabilitation. The measured times were significantly worse in the absence of the user's own visual feedback (T(s) = 7.09 (P < 0.001) and T(c) = 4.48 (P < 0.005)). In vision-based interaction systems, the input device is the user's own body; therefore, it makes sense that feedback should be related to the body of the user. In case of disabilities the mirror feedback mechanisms facilitated the interaction in vision-based systems for rehabilitation. Results recommends developers and researchers use this improvement in vision-based motor rehabilitation interactive systems.
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Gràfics, Visió i Intelligència Artificial, Department de Ciències Matemàtiques i Informàtica, Universitat de les Illes Balears, E07122 Palma, Spain.
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3312-5347
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jaume-i-Capó
authors.affiliation: Grup d'Investigació d'Evidència, Estils de Vida i Salut, Department d'Infermeria i Fisioteràpia, Universitat de les Illes Balears, E07122 Palma, Spain.
authors.forename: Pau
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martínez-Bueso
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Gràfics, Visió i Intelligència Artificial, Department de Ciències Matemàtiques i Informàtica, Universitat de les Illes Balears, E07122 Palma, Spain.
authors.forename: Biel
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moyà-Alcover
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Gràfics, Visió i Intelligència Artificial, Department de Ciències Matemàtiques i Informàtica, Universitat de les Illes Balears, E07122 Palma, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0287-0486
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Varona
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D056228:Feedback, Sensory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D018910:Video Games; D055815:Young Adult