Feasibility of using a depth camera or pressure mat for visual feedback balance training with functional electrical stimulation

BioMedical Engineering OnLine, 2024 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12938-023-01191-y · Published: January 26, 2024

Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Biomedical

Simple Explanation

This study explores using affordable sensors like depth cameras or pressure mats instead of force plates in a balance training system for individuals with spinal cord injuries. The system combines visual feedback and functional electrical stimulation to help patients improve their standing balance after spinal cord injury. The depth camera showed better results than the pressure mat, suggesting it could be a good replacement for the more expensive force plate.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

10 able-bodied participants (7 males, 3 females)

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
The depth camera showed higher Pearson’s correlation (r > 98) and lower root mean squared error (RMSE < 10 mm) than the pressure mat (r > 0.82; RMSE < 4.5 mm) when compared with the force plate overall.
2
Stimulation based on the depth camera showed lower RMSE than that based on the pressure mat relative to the FES + VFBT system.
3
The depth camera shows potential as a replacement sensor to the force plate for providing feedback to the FES + VFBT system.

Research Summary

The study investigates the feasibility of using depth cameras and pressure mats as alternatives to force plates in a visual feedback balance training system coupled with functional electrical stimulation (FES + VFBT) for individuals with spinal cord injury. Ten able-bodied participants performed standing balance exercises using the FES + VFBT system with a force plate, while a depth camera and pressure mat collected data passively. The results indicate that the depth camera shows promise as a replacement for the force plate, offering a more affordable and accessible solution for clinical use of the FES + VFBT system.

Practical Implications

Clinical Accessibility

Replacing force plates with depth cameras can make balance training systems more accessible in clinical settings due to lower cost and easier setup.

Rehabilitation Potential

The FES + VFBT system, enhanced with depth camera feedback, can be applied to other populations with balance impairments, such as stroke survivors.

Sensor Development

The findings contribute to the development of more cost-effective and portable rehabilitation tools for improving standing balance in individuals with motor impairments.

Study Limitations

1
One future step for the study is to test the source of the errors for the depth camera (i.e., Kinect v2) and pressure mat.
2
For the pressure mat, a potential factor for its error is its inability to capture horizontal forces.
3
Finally, while the study has used able-bodied individuals for evaluating the feasibility of these alternatives sensors for providing COM feedback to FES + VFBT system, the final system will be used with individuals with iSCI.

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