News Release
An innovative real time monitoring system developed by
researchers at The Glasgow School of Art and Strathclyde University is helping
stroke patients to take more control of their recovery.
Funded by Lifelong Health and
Wellbeing (LLHW), Envisage is an
innovative system that converts complex biomechanical data into easily
understandable images helping both therapist and patient. The system is currently
being trialled in three settings – the community, the domestic and the hospital
environment – in partnership with Lanarkshire Health Care NHS Trust.
Wellbeing (LLHW), Envisage is an
innovative system that converts complex biomechanical data into easily
understandable images helping both therapist and patient. The system is currently
being trialled in three settings – the community, the domestic and the hospital
environment – in partnership with Lanarkshire Health Care NHS Trust.
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Patient Linda Gordon uses the system |
Motion
Sensor Technology
Sensor Technology
At the moment therapists need to explain to patients how
they are getting on with particular movements and exercises. With Envisage patients are able to see and
understand immediately the extent to which they are achieving their target
position and respond by making adjustments instantly. Sensors placed on patients’
upper and lower limbs during therapy sessions monitor exercises and convert the
movement data in real time into images. Patients see their movements being made
by a “stick figure” with the extent to which a desired movement is being
achieved indicated by a clear red to green spectrum. The system is tailored not
only to the individual patient, but also to the specific therapy session with
targets able to be adjusted as recovery proceeds.
they are getting on with particular movements and exercises. With Envisage patients are able to see and
understand immediately the extent to which they are achieving their target
position and respond by making adjustments instantly. Sensors placed on patients’
upper and lower limbs during therapy sessions monitor exercises and convert the
movement data in real time into images. Patients see their movements being made
by a “stick figure” with the extent to which a desired movement is being
achieved indicated by a clear red to green spectrum. The system is tailored not
only to the individual patient, but also to the specific therapy session with
targets able to be adjusted as recovery proceeds.
Immediate
impact for patients and therapists
impact for patients and therapists
Envisage is already proving a hit with both staff and
patients. “It has been really helpful,”
says 55-year old Linda Gordon who was of a similar age to journalist and
political commentator Andrew Marr when she suffered her stroke. “Because you can actually see what you are
doing, where you are going wrong you can immediately do something about it.”
patients. “It has been really helpful,”
says 55-year old Linda Gordon who was of a similar age to journalist and
political commentator Andrew Marr when she suffered her stroke. “Because you can actually see what you are
doing, where you are going wrong you can immediately do something about it.”
Occupational therapist Gillian Sweeney adds: “Occupational therapists and physiotherapists have always used
verbal feedback and mirrors in therapy sessions as patients like to be able to
know where they’re going wrong and to get advice on how to correct this. Envisage
means this is possible for them to see this immediately”
verbal feedback and mirrors in therapy sessions as patients like to be able to
know where they’re going wrong and to get advice on how to correct this. Envisage
means this is possible for them to see this immediately”
Design at
forefront of healthcare improvement
forefront of healthcare improvement
The application of design in health care is a key area
of research at The Glasgow School of Art. Envisage is one of a number of major
research projects being undertaken within the School of Design in partnership
with other academic institutions and health authorities that are helping to
improve delivery of key services and increase patient independence and understanding
of their recovery. Being able to perform physical activities is crucial to a
fulfilling life and appropriate rehabilitation is key to helping patients reach
optimum physical capacity as well as reducing the impact of illness on physical
and mental wellbeing. Envisage has been developed to support patient recovery
and in particular to look at how patient understanding can help the
rehabilitation process.
of research at The Glasgow School of Art. Envisage is one of a number of major
research projects being undertaken within the School of Design in partnership
with other academic institutions and health authorities that are helping to
improve delivery of key services and increase patient independence and understanding
of their recovery. Being able to perform physical activities is crucial to a
fulfilling life and appropriate rehabilitation is key to helping patients reach
optimum physical capacity as well as reducing the impact of illness on physical
and mental wellbeing. Envisage has been developed to support patient recovery
and in particular to look at how patient understanding can help the
rehabilitation process.
“Envisage
is a tangible example of how design can have a positive impact on delivery of
health care and on patient recovery,” says Dr Anne Taylor of the GSA, a
Research Fellow on the Envisage project. “Recovery
from a stroke is a long, slow process and keeping up with exercise a major
challenge. From the evaluation of the trials to date clear patterns are
emerging of improved patient understanding and communication as a direct result
of them being able to see and immediately adjust their movements, as well as to
see how they are reaching their rehabilitation targets.“
is a tangible example of how design can have a positive impact on delivery of
health care and on patient recovery,” says Dr Anne Taylor of the GSA, a
Research Fellow on the Envisage project. “Recovery
from a stroke is a long, slow process and keeping up with exercise a major
challenge. From the evaluation of the trials to date clear patterns are
emerging of improved patient understanding and communication as a direct result
of them being able to see and immediately adjust their movements, as well as to
see how they are reaching their rehabilitation targets.“
For the clinical trials the researchers are working
with Lanarkshire Health Care NHS Trust. The Trust has facilitated access to therapy
sessions and through the NHSL Research and Development department made a major
contribution to the success of the trial.
with Lanarkshire Health Care NHS Trust. The Trust has facilitated access to therapy
sessions and through the NHSL Research and Development department made a major
contribution to the success of the trial.
“It has
been a real opportunity for us in Lanarkshire to work in collaboration with The
Glasgow School of Art and Strathclyde University to develop opportunities to
improve patient care and extend the evidence base of how we rehabilitate stroke
patients here,”
says Katrina Brennan Stroke MCN Manager NHS Lanarkshire and National Action
Plan Coordinator for the Scottish Government.
been a real opportunity for us in Lanarkshire to work in collaboration with The
Glasgow School of Art and Strathclyde University to develop opportunities to
improve patient care and extend the evidence base of how we rehabilitate stroke
patients here,”
says Katrina Brennan Stroke MCN Manager NHS Lanarkshire and National Action
Plan Coordinator for the Scottish Government.
Once this small-scale trial is completed and evaluated
it is hoped that larger-scale studies will follow and the technology will
eventually become a standard part of stroke rehabilitation.
it is hoped that larger-scale studies will follow and the technology will
eventually become a standard part of stroke rehabilitation.
Ends
Notes for
Editors
Lifelong Health and Wellbeing is a cross-research
council initiative in partnership with the UK health departments and led by the
Medical Research Council (MRC).
The envisage research project is is
a collaboration between the University of Strathclyde’s Bioengineering Unit,
The Glasgow School of Art’s School of Design, Glasgow Caledonian University’s
School of Engineering & Computing, and a number of other partner
institutions and organisations. Principal investigator on Envisage is
Professor Philip Rowe Professor of Rehabilitation Science, Bioengineering Unit,
University of Strathclyde. Co-Investigators are Professor Alastair Macdonald
Senior Researcher, School of Design The Glasgow School of Art and Professor
Lynne Baillie, School of Engineering and Built Environment Glasgow Caledonian
University.
The Glasgow School of Art is internationally recognised as one of
Europe’s foremost university-level institutions for creative education and
research in fine art, design and architecture. Professor Alastair Macdonald,
Senior Researcher at the GSA’s School of Design, heads a dedicated team of
researchers with a focus on design research within health and care. He is the
design research lead for several inter-disciplinary and inter-institutional
projects encompassing healthcare service design innovation using participative
co-design methods and processes, and innovative visualisation methods.
Europe’s foremost university-level institutions for creative education and
research in fine art, design and architecture. Professor Alastair Macdonald,
Senior Researcher at the GSA’s School of Design, heads a dedicated team of
researchers with a focus on design research within health and care. He is the
design research lead for several inter-disciplinary and inter-institutional
projects encompassing healthcare service design innovation using participative
co-design methods and processes, and innovative visualisation methods.