Augmented reality for at-home physical rehabilitation
Official title: Augmented Reality Platform for Telehealth Rehabilitation
Funded at Altec, INC. · NIH-11124038 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project creates an augmented reality app to help older adults with joint or mobility problems do guided physical therapy at home with clinician feedback.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Altec, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Natick, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2021 |
| Project end | October 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $690,901 |
| NIH project number | 5R44AG072991-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11124038 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older adults or people with osteoarthritis or other musculoskeletal mobility problems who can use (or have a caregiver to use) a smartphone or tablet with an internet connection.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without compatible devices or internet access, those with severe cognitive impairment, or those who need immediate hands-on surgical or orthopedic care may not benefit.
What this research studies
You would use an augmented-reality platform on a smartphone or tablet that shows exercise guidance and captures 3-D body movements. The system is designed to help clinicians measure joint motion, posture, balance, strength, and function remotely so they can plan therapy and track progress. The team is building on Phase I work with Massachusetts General Hospital and combines biomechanics and computer-vision tools to improve measurement accuracy for clinical use. Some activities may be fully remote while other validation steps could require short in-person visits.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could expand access to effective rehabilitation by letting clinicians deliver and monitor therapy remotely with more precise movement measurements.
How similar studies have gone: Tele-rehabilitation approaches have helped many patients and earlier Phase I feasibility work for this AR platform showed promise, but using AR for precise clinical measurements is still relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Altec, INC.
Natick, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shiwani, Bhawna — Altec, INC.
- Study coordinator: Shiwani, Bhawna
Related research
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-
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.