Serious Game-Based Balance Training with Augmented Kinesthetic Feedback Enhances Aspects of Postural Control in
Mariana Armando Lourenço1, Tatiana de Paula Oliveira1, Camila Souza Miranda1
1Department of Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Games for Health Journal
|November 28, 2024
Summary
Serious games (SG) combined with kinesthetic and verbal cues significantly improved balance and lower limb function in stroke survivors more than SG feedback alone. Both groups showed similar gains in quality of life and walking performance.
Area of Science:
- Neurorehabilitation
- Physical Therapy
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Poststroke hemiparesis causes motor asymmetry and impaired postural control, limiting function.
- Serious games (SG) offer potential for balance rehabilitation through visual and auditory feedback.
- The impact of combining SG with kinesthetic and verbal cues for balance training in stroke patients remains under-explored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effectiveness of SG balance intervention with and without added kinesthetic and verbal cues in individuals with chronic poststroke hemiparesis.
- To evaluate the impact of different feedback modalities on balance performance and functional outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 30 participants with chronic poststroke hemiparesis and balance impairment.
- Participants underwent 14 individual SG balance training sessions under two conditions: SG with kinesthetic/verbal cues or SG feedback only.
- Outcome measures included the Balance Evaluation Systems Test, Fugl-Meyer Assessment, six-minute walk test, and Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale, assessed at pre-training, post-training, and follow-up.
Main Results:
- The group receiving SG combined with kinesthetic and verbal cues demonstrated superior improvements in lower limb function and specific balance domains (biomechanical constraints, limits of stability).
- Both intervention groups achieved comparable significant improvements in quality of life and long-distance walking capacity.
- No significant differences were observed between groups for overall quality of life or walking performance.
Conclusions:
- The addition of kinesthetic and verbal cues to SG-based balance training enhances postural control in stroke survivors more effectively than SG feedback alone.
- This study provides novel comparative data on feedback modalities within SG interventions for stroke rehabilitation.
- Future research could explore optimal combinations of sensory feedback for maximizing balance recovery post-stroke.
