System and method for providing indirect movement feedback during sensorimotor function rehabilitation and enhancement

A method of providing movement feedback to a user undergoing rehabilitation of control by the user of a body appendage of the user, the method comprising:

• providing a rehabilitation feedback system comprising (i) a base frame, (ii) at least one working element supported on the base frame so as to be movable relative to the base frame from a starting position to a deflected position, (iii) a biasing member operatively connected between the base frame and said at least one working element so as to provide a resistance force acting to urge said at least one working element towards the starting position, (iv) a sensor element arranged to detect movement of said at least one working element away from the starting position, and (v) an indicator element arranged to indicate to the user a displacement of said at least one working element in response to detection by the sensor element that said at least one working element has moved away from the starting position;
• providing a visual barrier in proximity to the rehabilitation system such that said at least one working element is hidden at a first side of the visual barrier from direct visual sight by the user at a second side of the visual barrier;
• locating the indicator element so as to be detectable by a user from the second side of the visual barrier;
• and
• operating the feedback system such that any movement relative to the base frame of a body appendage of the user that is coupled to said at least one working element at the first side of the visual barrier is indicated to the user in a manner that is detectable by the user from the second side of the visual barrier.