How Augmented Reality Could Revolutionize Rehabilitation For Neurologic Disorders

Augmented reality (AR) brings together real life and the digital world. It does this by creating a digital landscape or "canvas" around the user, in which digital content can interact with the user's physical surroundings. Although AR applications in healthcare have been largely concentrated in surgery, AR-based use cases are increasing rapidly throughout the entire continuum of care, including diagnostics, treatment planning, monitoring, mental health and rehabilitation.

Neurological Disorders Globally And In The U.S.

Neurological diseases and disorders are the leading cause of disability worldwide, with an estimated one billion people suffering from neurological disorders. Additionally, a 2017 U.S.-based study showed that the burden of neurological diseases is increasing, due in large part to the aging population.

Neurorehabilitation In Improving Physical Function And Quality of Life

Neurorehabilitation’s aim is to stimulate neural plasticity through targeted exercises. Such exercises can speed motor recovery, increase physical function and improve symptoms following an injury to the nervous system. Multiple motor skills can be compromised following a stroke or with the progression of Parkinson’s or other neurological diseases. Accordingly, neurorehabilitation programs can include multiple components to address mobility retraining and occupational therapy for upper limbs and lower extremities and improve a patient’s activities of daily living (ADL).

The expected growth of the rehabilitation market, including neurorehabilitation, is significant. In the rehabilitation equipment market, research firms have estimated a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2% from 2020 until 2025. In the neurorehabilitation device market, the estimated CAGR is considerably higher at 15.1%. This growth is likely attributed to technological advancements, including robotics/exoskeletons, gamification and VR. This technology, coupled with AR, could improve the quality of neurorehabilitation and improve access to high-quality rehabilitation by enabling patients to complete programs in nonclinical settings, including the home.

AR In Neurorehabilitation Assessment And Recovery

An important component of neurorehabilitation is the initial assessment. In both neurologic assessment and rehabilitation, healthcare providers require the ability to objectively quantify a patient’s baseline status and/or track changes in a patient’s neurological function relative to a host of neurodegenerative conditions. This functionality is intrinsic to effective, efficient care.

Current advancements in AR allow a patient to use an AR headset to complete a number of neurological assessments, including balance assessment, gait performance, ADL functionality screening and visual field screening, as well as other isolated or integrated neurological test components. Importantly, these same assessments can be feasibly implemented by a specialist from thousands of miles away for nearly immediate results available for interpretation. The same AR ecosystem can then be used for real-time rehabilitation methods, such as neuro-focused physical or occupational therapy, in a clinical or home environment.

AR can also enhance current neurorehabilitation programs, along with the initial exam, as follows:

• Biofeedback can be used to provide real-time movement guidance to the patient, such as mobility training, movement kinematics and gait and balance training. This guidance can improve movement quality during the rehabilitation session.

• Objective, quantifiable measurements can be used to track patient progress over the course of therapy treatments, thereby allowing healthcare providers to modify and individualize the rehabilitation program to the patient.

• Gamification — or adding games for patients to play virtually — in rehabilitation can make therapy more engaging for patients. This is a critical component of care, as rehabilitation programs can be repetitive and tedious, and utilizing games can improve motivation and satisfaction, as well as increase the likelihood of completing the rehabilitation program.

• Device portability can enable unrestricted movement while interacting with digital content to improve usability and allow patients to complete rehabilitation from nonclinical settings. This is critical to increasing access to high-quality rehabilitation programs for patients in rural or underserved communities.

The Path Forward

Based on current neurorehabilitation research, traditional rehabilitation offerings have limitations that impact the features that can provide critical support to patients in the diagnosis, recovery and management of their individual disease states. AR combined with innovative technologies addresses these limitations.

Enabling factors for adoption include training healthcare professionals in these new immersive technologies, working with providers to integrate the technology into existing healthcare environments and securing reimbursement from insurers who will want to compare outcomes of spatial computing-supported rehabilitation versus usual care. Adoption needs also include addressing regulatory requirements, especially for devices that are intended for use in the home, and creating a body of evidence around safety and efficacy, as compared to traditional care.

The global population is aging and the patient population suffering from neurological disorders is increasing. Bringing innovative technology-based solutions to the healthcare market to improve quality of care, while taking into consideration cost and healthcare workforce constraints will only become more important in the future.