View source for The emerging role of Microsoft Kinect in physiotherapy rehabilitation for stroke patients

=== The Role of Microsoft Kinect   ===

Microsoft Kinect can:&nbsp;: 

*Provide flexibility in delivering individualized physiotherapy in the patient's home. 
*Involve carers more within the rehabilitative process (Stroke Association recommendation)<ref name="NIFHR">National Institute for Health Research. Using the Microsoft ‘Kinect’ as a stroke rehabilitation tool. Re-appropriation of non-commodity electronics devices for use in facial paralysis rehabilitation. Available from: http://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/funded-research/funded-research.htm?postid=1905 (accessed 16 November 2015).</ref> 
*Help the NHS meet National Clinical Guidelines on physiotherapy interventions for stroke (45 minutes per day of treatment during the acute phase)<ref>SIGN. Management of patients with stroke: Rehabilitation, prevention and management of complications, and discharge planning. A national clinical guideline. Available from: http://www.sign.ac.uk/pdf/sign118.pdf (accessed 12 November 2015).</ref> 
*Improve patient engagement through stimulating rehabilitation<ref name="NIFHR" />. 
*Be a low cost rehabilitation tool<ref name="Hondori" /><ref>Wiemeyer J, Kliem A. S[https://eurapa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1007/s11556-011-0093-x erious games in prevention and rehabilitation—a new panacea for elderly people?] European Review of Aging and Physical Activity 2012;9(1):41.</ref> 
*Reduce the need for expensive one-to-one clinical contact 
*Provide a range of indirect savings due to improved rehabilitation of patient 
*Reduce transportation cost and time savings from the perspective of both the physiotherapist and patient<ref name="Australian Physio" /> 
*Provide continuity of patient care<ref name="Australian Physio">Australian Physiotherapy Rehabilitation. Telerehabilitation. Available from: https://www.physiotherapy.asn.au/DocumentsFolder/Advocacy_Background_Papers_Telerehabilitation.pdf (accessed 13 November 2015).</ref>

The demand for technologically advanced home-based rehabilitation which allows therapists to track progression is expected to expand. Microsoft Kinect is the leading commercially available hardware which can be developed to meet these needs while simultaneously maintaining affordability.

In an ideal world, [[stroke]] rehabilitation would take place with one to one therapist-patient interaction on a daily basis, however, demands on both the NHS and physiotherapists makes this dream difficult to achieve. Through guided interactive rehabilitation and the ability for therapists to track progress, the Kinect-based [[stroke]] rehabilitation programmes potentially reduce these difficulties on demand. The accuracy of the Kinect for clinical use in [[stroke]] rehabilitation is strong, allowing therapist assisted home-based rehab to become a reality. The Kinects ability to allow therapists to track progress and give feedback may not only enhance rehabilitation, but also improve medical record keeping.<ref name="Webster 2014" /> [[Image:Learning with Microsoft Kinect.jpg|center|800x350px]]