TARGET Technology Assisted Rehabilitation Giving Enhanced Therapy

TARGET is a computerised rehabilitation system for stroke survivors to use in their own home. The system gives the user feedback on the functional activities that their therapists have demonstrated and prescribed as an exercise programme. The aim is to encourage regular practice of particular functional tasks and give graphical feedback to enable users to change motor behaviour.

The TARGET rehabilitation system is a fusion between the outcome of SMART 1 and Philips Research Department in Aachen, Germany.

SMART 1 developed a proof of concept rehabilitation system using motion sensors and an ICT platform showing patient movements on a multimedia personal computer and touch-screen. At the same time, Philips Research was developing its own computer based home rehabilitation device and the two systems have now been merged into TARGET.

TARGET uses Philips wireless motion sensors, which send information to a laptop computer that can be used in people's homes. Movements are recorded using the sensors and then stored and analysed on the laptop. The stroke survivor can select from a library of functional activities and compare their own movement with a normal template. Analysis of the activity shows time taken to complete the movement, number of repetitions, and range of motion at the trunk and limb joints.

The system has been tested out in the homes of four stroke patients in Sheffield to see how patients use the system, and to consider its acceptability.

Currently work is planned to develop the end to end infrastructure to allow therapists remote access to the stroke survivor's record. Further consultation with therapists will inform the development of the therapist interface with a range of variables available to demonstrate patient progress. A pilot randomised controlled study of the use of the TARGET system in community settings is being planned for 2008.