Intrinsic or Extrinsic? Using Videogames to Motivate Stroke Survivors: A Systematic Review.

Area of Science:

• Neurorehabilitation
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Health Psychology

Background:

• Stroke survivors often face challenges with motivation for rehabilitation.
• Traditional rehabilitation methods may not always sustain patient engagement.
• The potential of technology, like videogames, to enhance rehabilitation is an area of growing interest.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the effectiveness of videogame-based interventions for stroke rehabilitation.
• To assess the impact of these interventions on patient motivation and health outcomes.
• To identify motivational theories and principles applied in videogame-based stroke rehabilitation.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review of 18 articles was conducted.
• Articles were analyzed for videogame intervention effectiveness on function and health outcomes.
• Patient motivation levels and applied motivational techniques (e.g., self-determination theory, flow theory, operant conditioning) were coded.

Main Results:

• Videogame interventions show effectiveness in improving motor functioning in stroke survivors.
• These interventions can increase energy expenditure, muscle strength, and reduce recovery times.
• Evidence suggests videogame-based approaches positively impact patient motivation for rehabilitation activities.

Conclusions:

• Videogame-based interventions are a promising strategy to boost stroke patient engagement in rehabilitation.
• These interventions can lead to significant improvements in various health-related outcomes.
• Further research applying self-determination theory to videogame-based stroke rehabilitation is recommended.