Design Requirements for a Haptic-Assisted Hand Motor Training Systems in Stroke Rehabilitation: Insights from a Multidisciplinary Cohort

Abstract

Stroke survivors with disabilities must actively participate in targeted rehabilitation processes to recover their skills and prevent secondary impairments. Haptic technology offers the potential to restore motor functions by integrating visual perception and tactile sensation. However, designing a haptic-assisted hand motor training system for stroke patients poses significant challenges concerning how the program should be developed to achieve the most favorable rehabilitation outcomes. This research aimed to identify the essential design requirements tailored to the unique needs of stroke patients and their care providers, then develop a prototype hand motor training system. A diverse and inclusive cohort was selected for this study. The participants were provided with comprehensive details, ensuring a clear understanding of the objectives. In-depth interviews were conducted to gather valuable insights, which were then summarized and used as the foundation for developing the proposed rehabilitation system. The results highlighted integrating training games with a variety of difficulty levels, and hand-motor functions. The findings provide valuable guidance that could enhance the rehabilitation experience and improve patient outcomes. Moreover, the prototype system developed from these human needs could also be used for real-time measurement, thus facilitating the uncomplicated and rapid evaluation of post-training patients.

Keywords

• stroke
• rehabilitation
• design requirement
• motor training system
• haptic