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Session: Rehabilitation
Session starts: Friday 27 January, 14:00
Presentation starts: 15:15
Room: Room 530

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Aurora Ruiz-Rodríguez (University of Twente)
Lotte Hagedoorn ()
Vivian Weerdesteyn ()
Hermie Hermens ()
Edwin van Asseldonk ()

Abstract:
Stroke survivors have problems with balance, causing an increased risk of falling. To train balance in rehabilitation, stepping recovery is practised by perturbing the patients. Even though traditional therapies are necessary, literature indicates that playing video games during therapy sessions can increase the motivation to do therapy. Serious videogames, such as exergames, that train voluntary stepping can be found, but it remains a challenge to train recovery steps in a home environment. In this paper, we proposed the design of a serious videogame to train stepping responses of stroke patients in a home environment, using recent findings of action observation and motor imagery. We followed an iterative user-centred methodology to design the HEROES exergame. It consists of 4 main stages, Empathize, Define, Ideate and Prototype. The design characteristics of the HEROES exergame emerged from the User-Centered design process, and are validated in every stage. During this process, stroke patients, physiotherapists, game designers and experts in human movement were involved. First, during the Empathize stage, we conducted a contextual study to understand the population and the problem to solve, interviews were conducted with physiotherapists and stroke patients. Then, using the contextual study results, we define the video game's logistical, technical, therapeutical and conceptual aspects. Next, we followed participatory design sessions where the stakeholders were involved to ideate game concepts of the therapeutic video game. Finally, we design a low-fidelity prototype producing an inexpensive version of the product. The design of the HEROES exergame complies with the stroke accessibility guidelines, providing clear instructions and feedback. The therapeutic goal is achieved by the progression of the level design. The patient is able to train paretic and non-paretic legs in a safe set-up.