Auditory Feedback for Gait Rehabilitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current movement sonification techniques in rehabilitation settings rely on primitive and negative auditory feedback, which can discourage patients from continuing treatment.
Innovation Solution
A system using plantar pressure sensors and a mobile device to provide continuous and progressive auditory feedback, adjusting feedback based on the similarity of actual movements to a target movement, incorporating music tracks or chord progressions to encourage and guide users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If primitive negative auditory feedback is used to indicate movement deviations, then patients receive information about their performance, but patient motivation and continuation of treatment decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional negative feedback approach by using positive auditory feedback. Instead of only indicating errors with dissonant sounds, the system provides consonant, harmonious musical feedback when patients achieve correct movements, transforming the feedback paradigm from penalty-based to reward-based while maintaining informative value
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes auditory feedback parameters including pitch, tone quality (consonant vs dissonant), volume, and musical progression based on movement accuracy. This creates a nuanced feedback system that conveys performance information through musical parameters rather than simple presence/absence of sound, maintaining information delivery while improving patient experience
2Loss of information
If continuous auditory feedback is provided throughout training sessions, then patients receive constant performance information, but the complexity of the feedback system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback system dynamically adapts its characteristics based on real-time movement data. The musical feedback evolves in complexity and progression throughout the training session, adjusting pitch, harmony, and temporal patterns according to patient performance, creating a responsive yet manageable system
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements closed-loop feedback where auditory output is continuously adjusted based on sensor input from plantar pressure sensors. This creates an automatic feedback mechanism that reduces the need for manual intervention and simplifies system operation while maintaining continuous informative feedback
3Ease of manufacture
If simple auditory signals like short tones are used to indicate movement errors, then the system is easy to implement, but the engagement and motivation of patients decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple auditory elements (pitch, tone quality, volume, temporal patterns) into a composite musical feedback system. This composite approach integrates several simple components to create a richer, more engaging feedback experience that maintains ease of implementation through software-based audio synthesis
Data Source
AI summary
An aspect of the present disclosure describes a system for providing continuous and progressive auditory feedback based on real-time orthopedic sensor data, which includes a plurality of plantar pressure sensors, an audio output device, and a mobile device. The mobile device receives receive, from at least one of the plantar pressure sensors, one or more sensor values indicative of an actual movement of a user during a training session. The mobile device determines, based on an evaluation of the sensor values, a similarity of the actual movement to a target movement. The mobile device modifies, as a function of the similarity of the actual movement to the target movement, an auditory feedback, and causes the audio output device to output the auditory feedback.