Mirrorcle: Enhanced Visual Feedback to support Motor Learning in Low Back Pain

Abstract

About 60 to 90% of the population has experienced low back pain (LBP) once in their life; yearly this is 5% of the population. Non specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) is LBP without a specific cause that lasts longer than twelve weeks. Research has shown that exercise therapy is the most effective rehabilitation method; and can be enhanced by technological systems. This knowledge served as a base for the development of Mirrorcle. Mirrorcle is an interactive mirror that provides a set of exercises, designed for persons suffering from NSCLBP. By giving extrinsic feedback during and after the exercises, Mirrorcle enables patients to perform their exercises better and learn more from them. Five physiotherapists rated the credibility for the use of Mirrorcle in rehabilitation as high and the expectancy for good treatment results as moderate. A usability questionnaire and observation was done with one LBP patient. During this test, the usability of Mirrorcle was perceived positive.