ILAST++: Immmersive Leg Coordination and Strength Therapy

Closed Human-Computer Interaction Bachelor Project No Affiliation

Background

Knee injuries are a major cause for mobility deficits and can drastically impair people. Typical knee traumata can occur during sport activities as well as in house hold and every day life actions. Knee injuries often include permanent damages to internal knee structures necessary for accurate motor functions. These include, e.g., ligament and/or meniscus ruptures as well as cartilage damages.

Two major types of treatment solutions exist for knee injuries: (1) conservative (non-invasive) as well as (2) invasive surgery-based methods to initially repair damaged areas. In both cases, coordination and strength exercises are a central aspect of conservative as well as of post-surgery therapy. Knee mobilization is important to establish correct motor function and to detumescence post-traumatic liquid conglomeration. Increasing muscle strength helps to stabilize the knee and to protect the knee from further damages. Motivation to perform repetitive exercises is a crucial necessity for a positive outcome. Similarly, control, regulation, and adaption to the patients progress is required for maximum efficiency and effectivity.

In a former project a prototype of an immersive Virtual Reality (VR) training system for post-operative therapy treatment after knee injuries was developed. The training system uses basic game-like experiences simulated in fully immersive virtual environments which motivate patients to perform dedicated movement tasks mobilizing and strengthening their lower limbs. Patients are embodied. They are able to see a virtual counterfeit of their body which interacts with virtual objects, e.g., balancing a virtual ball or retracing a specified task, to increase motor mimicry and to strengthen the training effect. For a full overview over the system and its features visit the ILAST-Website:

• https://www.hci.uni-wuerzburg.de/projects/ilast/

The second ILAST project - ILAST+ - focussed the gamification of the existing exercises. The project team implemented alternative exercise versions where patients gather balloons while doing their exercises.

Tasks

ILAST++ will focus on the following tasks:

• Extension of the existing prototype, e.g., additional gamified exercises
• Further Gamification of the application, e.g., achievements, badges and alike
• Improvement of the existing prototype, e.g., user feedback and coaching

The project will be organized according to the basic principles of SCRUM, an agile project management method for software development. A group of 10 to 15 students will work as a team.

Prerequisites

• Introduction to Programming (Java, C++ or C#), e.g., 10-MCS-EinP
• Introduction to MCS, e.g., 06-MCS-GL-AP
• Statistics 1 and 2, e.g., 06-PSY-STAT-1 and 06-PSY-STAT-2
• Advanced Programming, e.g., 10-MCS-GADS, 10-MCS-EPP and 10-MCS-SPSE
• Usability and Software Ergonomics, e.g., 06-MCS-Usab
• Interactive Computer Graphics, e.g., 10-MCS-ICGV

Optional

• Game Engine Experience (Unreal Engine)
• Software Quality, e.g., 10-MCS-SQ and 10-MCS-ST

Cooperation

This project is in cooperation with the handball club Rimparer Wölfe as well as with the university’s orthopedic clinic König-Ludwig-Haus and the chair for orthopedics.

Cooperation Partners

Contact Persons at the University Würzburg