Tele-rehabilitation device to enhance walking following ABI

Key Contact: Dr Celia Clarke

After a brain injury some people may experience difficulty moving their leg and therefore have problems with walking. The ability to control ankle movement has been shown to be an important feature of walking recovery following a brain injury and therefore the design of rehabilitation programmes and devices which can improve ankle control is desirable.

Research programmes have investigated whether virtual reality systems can be used to deliver exercises aimed at improving ankle control, and there is evidence to suggest that these systems have led to better walking recovery. However these systems are often bulky and expensive. In this project we want to develop a smart ‘wobble board’ which will be designed to deliver ankle exercises to people with brain injury. This product aims to be a portable low cost system that could be used in both clinical settings and in people’s own home.

The research was funded/supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Brain Injury Healthcare Technology Co-operative based at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and University of Cambridge.  The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the department of Health.