Investigating the User Experience of Virtual Reality Rehabilitation Solution for Biomechatronics Laboratory and Home Environment

Virtual reality (VR) technology is a promising tool in physical rehabilitation. Research indicates that VR-supported rehabilitation is beneficial for task-specific training, multi-sensory feedback, diversified rehabilitation tasks, and patient motivation. Our first goal was to create a biomechatronics laboratory with a VR setup for increasing immersion and a motion platform to provide realistic feedback to patients. The second goal was to investigate possibilities to replicate features of the biomechatronics laboratory in a home-based training system using commercially available components. The laboratory comprises of a motion platform with 6-degrees-of-freedom (Rexroth eMotion), fitted with a load cell integrated treadmill, and an Oculus Quest virtual reality headset. The load cells provide input for data collection, as well as VR motion control. The home-based rehabilitation system consists of a Nintendo Wii Balance Board and an Oculus Rift virtual reality headset. User studies in the laboratory and home environment used direct observation techniques and self-reported attitudinal research methods to assess the solution’s usability and user experience. The findings indicate that the proposed VR solution is feasible. Participants using the home-based system experienced more cybersickness and imbalance compared to those using the biomechatronics laboratory solution. Future studies will look at a setup that is safe for first patient studies, and exercises to improve diagnosis of patients and progress during rehabilitation.