KiReS: A Kinect-based telerehabilitation system

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to show the main features of KiReS, a telerehabilitation system based on Kinect for Windows, that offers, for both, users and physiotherapists some specific elements that make it more friendly to them. From the point of view of users, they can see in two 3D avatars how an exercise must be executed and how they execute it respectively. This feature can help them improve exercises performance. Moreover during the rehabilitation session they will always see an informative list that shows the exercises to be done in the session. From the point of view of physiotherapists the system allows them on the one hand, to define customized rehabilitation therapies. That can be done by defining different exercises that combine pre-defined movements. Moreover, they can add tests oriented to specific illnesses so that users themselves evaluate their physical state. On the other hand, they can create new exercises just performing those exercises in front of the system and recording them. Those features, not fully supported by already existing telerehabilitation systems, provide an added value that is well valued by both groups. Moreover, a prototype of KiReS is in operation, and allowed us to test its suitability from the point of view of real time performance as well as from the point of view of usability.