Researchers develop technology that may allow stroke patients to rehab at home

For the nearly 800,000 Americans who suffer from strokes each year, regaining fine motor skills such as writing and using utensils is essential for reclaiming independence and improving quality of life.

However, accessing frequent and intensive rehabilitation therapy can be both challenging and expensive.

How does it work?

Researchers at NYU Tandon School of Engineering have developed a promising new technology that could revolutionize stroke rehabilitation. This technology allows patients to perform rehabilitation exercises at home by tracking wrist movements using a simple setup: a smartphone strapped to the forearm and a low-cost gaming controller called the Novint Falcon.

The Novint Falcon, typically a desktop robot used for video games, guides users through specific arm motions and tracks the trajectory of its controller. However, it cannot directly measure the angle of the user's wrist, which is crucial data for therapists providing remote rehabilitation. To address this, the researchers proposed combining the Falcon with a smartphone's built-in motion sensors to accurately monitor wrist angles during exercises.

"Patients would strap their phone to their forearm and manipulate this robot," explained Maurizio Porfiri, senior author of the study. "Data from the phone's inertial sensors can then be combined with the robot's measurements through machine learning to infer the patient's wrist angle."

Why does it matter?

The researchers trained an algorithm to predict wrist angles based on sensor data and Falcon controller movements, achieving over 90% accuracy. This significant advancement means stroke survivors could perform rehabilitation exercises at home with real-time feedback, providing detailed data for therapists to assess their progress.

"This technology could allow patients to undergo rehabilitation exercises at home while providing detailed data to therapists," said Roni Barak Ventura, lead author of the paper. "It's a low-cost, user-friendly approach to increasing access to crucial post-stroke care."

The context

This study is part of NYU Tandon's broader effort to enhance stroke recovery methods. In 2022, NYU Tandon researchers began collaborating with the FDA to create a regulatory science tool based on biomarkers to assess the efficacy of rehabilitation devices for post-stroke motor recovery. Earlier this year, they unveiled technology using implanted brain electrodes to recreate the speaking voice of stroke victims who had lost speech ability.

The research team, including Angelo Catalano and Rayan Succar, plans to refine the algorithm with more data, aiming to help stroke survivors adhere to intensive rehab regimens from the comfort of their homes. As Barak Ventura noted, "This portable, affordable technology has great potential for making a difficult recovery process much more accessible."

Funded by grants from the National Science Foundation, this innovative approach represents a significant step forward in making stroke rehabilitation more accessible and effective.