Vibrotactile cueing using wearable computers for overcoming learned non-use in chronic stroke

Outpatient stroke rehabilitation is often lengthy and expensive due to patients\´ lack of functional use of the impaired arm outside of the clinic caused by "learned non-use." Learned non-use is detrimental to stroke recovery, often resulting in chronic disability. To overcome learned non-use, a wearable "personal assistant" solution is proposed that employs ubiquitous cueing to stimulate patient use of the paretic arm while outside of therapy sessions. A pilot user study is presented that evaluated stroke survivors\´ tolerance and acceptance of cueing, and the usability of the proposed implementation.