Clinical Feasibility & Validation of the Augmented Reality GlenxRose Acquired Brain Injury Rehabilitation Programs

Summary

Factors related to successful rehabilitation in acquired brain injury (ABI) are often directly related to adherence; for instance, dosage, frequency, and intensity can burden the patient regarding time and motivational factors. Regarding salience, patients may lose interest or find a traditional intervention boring after a few sessions. It is well documented that nonadherence not only impacts rehabilitation for patients but can also further prolong treatment, and increase hospital and clinician costs, in addition to a higher prevalence of future comorbidities. Additionally, the same factors that are related to can impact adherence are also related to neuroplasticity. Therefore, strategies that improve patient adherence can significantly help optimize patient care and treatment outcomes for those with ABI.

The gamification of rehabilitation therapies using augmented reality (AR) may help promote adherence. Gamification of rehabilitation therapy can make mass practice required in rehabilitation therapies seemingly fun and more personally engaging for the patient. Additionally, the experience achieved through AR can further promote salience and be customizable to individual patient requirements. As AR systems are now highly portable, cost-effective, and relatively simple to utilize, they can provide an excellent opportunity to provide more engaging rehabilitation approaches compared to standard care alone. AR gamification of rehabilitation may increase adherence by shifting patients' perspectives of therapy as tedious, boring, or a hassle, to a fun and engaging game that ultimately helps their recovery processes.

The GlenXRose AR-delivered ABI program (developed by the Cognitive Projections Lab, University of Alberta) has been created in collaboration with the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital with the overall goal of increasing patient adherence, treatment outcomes, and satisfaction with ABI rehabilitation therapy. The proposed studies are to investigate the feasibility of implementing this technology alongside routine clinical care, obtaining clinician feedback, examining associated financial costs, and continuing to examine the effect of the GlenXRose AR ABI-therapies on patient adherence and clinical outcomes, compared to traditional clinical care alone.

Conditions

• Acquired Brain Injury
• Stroke
• Traumatic Brain Injury

Interventions

DEVICE

GlenXRose Augmented Reality Acquired Brian Injury Therapies

Rehabilitation therapies for ABI have been developed for augmented reality implementation. These include various games to interact within an augmented environment while conducting rehabilitation therapy.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Alberta Health services

  collaborator OTHER

• Mitacs

  collaborator INDUSTRY

• University of Alberta

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Jim Raso, MASc · Glenrose Foundation

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

SEQUENTIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-08-01

Primary Completion

2027-05-31

Completion

2027-08-31

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations