The Open Medical Informatics Journal
2017, 11 : 29-36Published online 2017 August 10. DOI: 10.2174/1874431101711010029
Publisher ID: TOMINFOJ-11-29
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Fun During Knee Rehabilitation: Feasibility and Acceptability Testing of a New Android-Based Training Device
* Address correspondence to this author at Institute of Sports Medicine and Trauma Department, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany; Tel: +004951116747470; E-mail: weber-spickschen.sanjay@mh-hannover.de
ABSTRACT
Purpose:
The initial goals of rehabilitation after knee injuries and operations are to achieve full knee extension and to activate quadriceps muscle. In addition to regular physiotherapy, an android-based knee training device is designed to help patients achieve these goals and improve compliance in the early rehabilitation period. This knee training device combines fun in a computer game with muscular training or rehabilitation. Our aim was to test the feasibility and acceptability of this new device.
Methods:
50 volunteered subjects enrolled to test out the computer game aided device. The first game was the high-striker game, which recorded maximum knee extension power. The second game involved controlling quadriceps muscular power to simulate flying an aeroplane in order to record accuracy of muscle activation. The subjects evaluated this game by completing a simple questionnaire.
Results:
No technical problem was encountered during the usage of this device. No subjects complained of any discomfort after using this device. Measurements including maximum knee extension power, knee muscle activation and control were recorded successfully. Subjects rated their experience with the device as either excellent or very good and agreed that the device can motivate and monitor the progress of knee rehabilitation training.
Conclusion:
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first android-based tool available to fast track knee rehabilitation training. All subjects gave very positive feedback to this computer game aided knee device.