Virtual proprioception with real-time step detection and processing

Abstract

Virtual proprioception is a novel device for providing near autonomous biofeedback of hemiparetic gait disparity in real time. With virtual proprioception a user may modify gait dynamics to develop a more suitable gait in tandem with real time feedback. Accelerometers are fundamental to the operation of the device, and a thorough consideration of the accelerometry technology space for locomotion quantification is included. The role of traumatic brain injury and respective decrements to gait quality and proprioceptive feedback are addressed. Virtual proprioception conceptual test and evaluation yielded positive results. The active 'on' status of the virtual proprioception biofeedback for alternative gait strategy was bounded by a 90% confidence level with a 10% margin of error.