Clalit Health Fund Tests Augmented Reality Glasses for Stroke Rehabilitation

Clalit Health Fund in the Haifa and Western Galilee district is currently evaluating an innovative augmented reality (AR) system designed to enhance neurological rehabilitation for patients recovering from stroke and head injuries. Developed in collaboration with Motion Informatics, the technology integrates AR glasses, functional electrical stimulation (FES), surface electromyography (sEMG) muscle activity monitoring, and real-time data analysis to provide therapists with precise information on patients' movement quality and muscle activation during therapy sessions.

This system aims to improve rehabilitation outcomes by enabling personalized treatment plans based on objective data collected throughout the recovery process. Although still in clinical evaluation, the technology shows promise for advancing community-based neurological rehabilitation by offering detailed progress tracking and potentially accelerating recovery.

Dr. Michael Hauser, head of innovation at Clalit in the Haifa and Western Galilee district, emphasized that medical innovation must address clinical needs effectively, and this collaboration explores how advanced digital tools can be integrated into rehabilitation. Tal Rapaport, director of occupational therapy services at Clalit, noted that the current focus is on assessing the clinical potential and contribution of the AR system to rehabilitation processes.

Augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and biofeedback technologies have increasingly become integral to rehabilitation research worldwide. Their role is to complement therapists by providing accurate performance data, facilitating tailored treatment, and objectively measuring patient progress over time. Should clinical evaluations prove successful, such technologies could be widely adopted for treating stroke, head injuries, and other neurological conditions in the future.