Design and evaluation of an interactive balance board for stroke survivors

Sammanfattning: The rehabilitation after a stroke is important for the individual so that the affected body functions recover as much as possible. The balance is often impaired after a stroke and need to be strengthend to not impede the stroke-survivor in the daily life. The rehabilitation training of the balance should include motivation factors for the training to take place in sufficiently large scale. The aim of this thesis, which is part of the research projects STARR and ActivABLES was to develop a prototype for balance training with included motivators, suitable for stroke-survivors. It was indicated during the ten interviews and two user tests of the designed prototype that visible progress and musical feedback help to increase the motivation for balance training. During the development of a prototype for stroke-survivors, it is suitable to use the principles of Universal Design. It also emerged that music has a positive effect on the rehabilitation of cognitive skills among stroke-survivors, which reinforces the reason to use music as a part of the prototype. The feedback in the form of music and light facilitated for stroke-survivors to find a natural straight body position during the training of the balance. It was helpful for the stroke-survivor even after the workout, at the same time as it made the training fun. Progress, large and small that are made by the individual during the rehabilitation needs to be made visible, since it motivates the individual and the make the individual more positive. Improved rehabilitation of the stroke-survivors balance may lead to increased quality of life of the individual and economic savings for the society.