Serious Games for Training Myoelectric Prostheses through Multi-Contact Devices

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Pediatric Therapy

Background:

• Myoelectric prostheses restore mobility but require extensive patient training.
• Engaging pediatric patients in rehabilitation is crucial for adherence and success.
• Digital serious games offer a promising avenue to supplement traditional therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential of digital serious games for myoelectric prosthesis training.
• To develop and evaluate a system that supports rehabilitation for child amputees.

Main Methods:

• Needs assessment of children using myoelectric prostheses and their rehabilitation process.
• Design of tailored digital games for myoelectric prosthesis training.
• Development of a dynamic game generation system (SilverTouch) adapting to individual progress.
• Expert evaluation by physiotherapy, occupational therapy, medicine, and special education specialists.

Main Results:

• The SilverTouch system successfully generates dynamic game variations for personalized training.
• Tablet-based interfaces promote patient autonomy and engagement.
• Expert consensus confirmed the suitability and potential of SilverTouch for myoelectric prosthetic training.

Conclusions:

• Digital serious games, like SilverTouch, can significantly enhance myoelectric prosthesis training.
• The adaptive nature of the system addresses individual needs and promotes enjoyable rehabilitation.
• This approach holds considerable potential for widespread clinical application in pediatric rehabilitation.