Every fracture requires immobilization following surgery; however, immobilization impairs tactile perception and consequently diminishes cortical somatosensory maps. To minimize this adverse phenomenon, we developed a prototype device (development code: Ghost) for post-operative use of patients who underwent surgery for distal radius fracture (DRF). Ghost consists of a combination of a visualizer paired with a headmounted display to provide visual stimuli for enhance motor imagery and a vibration motor to provide pallesthetic feedback on the extensor carpi ulnaris tendon of the intact side. This study reports on the mechanism and theoretical foundation on which the operation of Ghost is currently built.
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