Augmented visual feedback after stroke: a creative arts-in-health feasibility study
August 12th, 2026
Adelaide, Australia
Susan Hillier, Garry Stewart, Thomas Pachoud
A feasibility study exploring Proximity: Clinical, an arts-in-health program using theatrical effects and real-time video feedback to support movement rehabilitation after stroke and brain injury. Developed by dancers, designers, and clinicians, the program helped participants see and adjust their movements while encouraging agency, curiosity, and enjoyment.
DOI: 10.1080/17533015.2026.2716334
Posted byGrace McKinstry
Pending staff verification
Notify
Abstract/Description
Background: People after stroke lose accurate movement partly due to weakness, but this is compounded by poor sensory feedback. Furthermore, motivation and engagement can impact participation in rehabilitation. To address these barriers to recovery, a novel theatrical effects program called Proximity, which provided augmented visual feedback, was set up in a stroke inpatient rehabilitation ward with a cross-disciplinary team of dancers, designers and clinicians. The overall aim of the study was to evaluate the safety, feasibility and acceptability of the program, as well as to explore potential benefits.
Methods: This exploratory feasibility study included 12 stroke and brain injury survivors and employed a mixed-methods, participatory action approach – collecting feasibility and acceptability data alongside semi-structured interviews, using an interpretive phenomenological analysis. Five different effects were adapted for Proximity: Clinical, comprising real-time screen displays with special effects to augment the life-size video images of the participants as they moved in front of the camera.
Results: Eleven of the 12 participants reported benefits, and this was supported by the observing clinicians. The theatre-based set-up was intensive and required considerable space. The effects enabled participants, firstly, to see for themselves what they were or were not doing in their postures and movements, and secondly, to immediately self-generate and evaluate changes in performance. In turn, this appeared to enhance agency, curiosity and enjoyment. This change in atmosphere – from remedial to creative exploration – was an unexpected but welcome experience for the cross-disciplinary team and reflects contemporary thinking in the arts/health nexus.
Methods: This exploratory feasibility study included 12 stroke and brain injury survivors and employed a mixed-methods, participatory action approach – collecting feasibility and acceptability data alongside semi-structured interviews, using an interpretive phenomenological analysis. Five different effects were adapted for Proximity: Clinical, comprising real-time screen displays with special effects to augment the life-size video images of the participants as they moved in front of the camera.
Results: Eleven of the 12 participants reported benefits, and this was supported by the observing clinicians. The theatre-based set-up was intensive and required considerable space. The effects enabled participants, firstly, to see for themselves what they were or were not doing in their postures and movements, and secondly, to immediately self-generate and evaluate changes in performance. In turn, this appeared to enhance agency, curiosity and enjoyment. This change in atmosphere – from remedial to creative exploration – was an unexpected but welcome experience for the cross-disciplinary team and reflects contemporary thinking in the arts/health nexus.
