Dr Celia Clarke is in the process of developing a tele-rehabilitation device to help patients who have suffered from a brain injury and are experiencing difficulty moving their legs resulting in problems with walking.
The ability to control ankle movement has been shown to be an important feature of walking recovery following a brain injury. Therefore the design of rehabilitation programmes and devices which can improve ankle control is desirable.
Current evidence suggests that virtual reality systems can be used to deliver exercises to improve ankle control, and that these systems have led to better walking recovery. However, these devices are often bulky and expensive. Therefore, Dr Clarke is investigating a low cost portable system in the form of a smart ‘wobble board’ which can deliver ankle exercises to patients in both clinical settings and their own homes.