Evaluating User Perceptions of a Vibrotactile Feedback System in Trunk Stabilization Exercises: A Feasibility Study
Philipp Floessel,
Lisa-Marie Lüneburg,
Julia Schneider,
Nora Pohnert,
Justin Foerster,
Franz Kappert,
Doris Lachmann,
Jens Krzywinski,
Uwe Platz,
Alexander Carl Disch
Affiliations
Philipp Floessel
Center of Orthopedic, Trauma and Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
Lisa-Marie Lüneburg
Industrial Design Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technische Universität Dresden, 01219 Dresden, Germany
Julia Schneider
Industrial Design Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technische Universität Dresden, 01219 Dresden, Germany
Nora Pohnert
Universitäts-Physiotherapie-Zentrum, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
Justin Foerster
Center of Orthopedic, Trauma and Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
Franz Kappert
Industrial Design Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technische Universität Dresden, 01219 Dresden, Germany
Doris Lachmann
Center of Orthopedic, Trauma and Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
Jens Krzywinski
Industrial Design Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technische Universität Dresden, 01219 Dresden, Germany
Uwe Platz
Center of Orthopedic, Trauma and Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
Alexander Carl Disch
Center of Orthopedic, Trauma and Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
Low back pain patients often have deficits in trunk stability. For this reason, many patients receive physiotherapy treatment, which represents an enormous socio-economic burden. Training at home could reduce these costs. The problem here is the lack of correction of the exercise execution. Therefore, this feasibility study investigates the applicability of a vibrotactile-controlled feedback system for trunk stabilisation exercises. A sample of 13 healthy adults performed three trunk stabilisation exercises. Exercise performance was corrected by physiotherapists using vibrotactile feedback. The NASA TLX questionnaire was used to assess the practicability of the vibrotactile feedback. The NASA TLX questionnaire shows a very low global workload 40.2 [29.3; 46.5]. The quality of feedback perception was perceived as good by the subjects, varying between 69.2% (anterior hip) and 92.3% (lower back). 80.8% rated the feedback as helpful for their training. On the expert side, the results show a high rating of movement quality. The positive evaluations of the physiotherapists and the participants on using the vibrotactile feedback system indicate that such a system can reduce the trainees fear of independent training and support the users in their training. This could increase training adherence and long-term success.
