Virtual Reality Game with Haptic Feedback for Upper Limb Rehabilitation in Parkinson's Disease

We developed a 3D virtual reality (VR) game with haptic feedback for upper-limb rehabilitation in individuals Parkinson's Disease (PD) and evaluated the usability of the haptic feedback during gameplay. A fishing game was created, incorporating force feedback on the grip of a fishing rod simulated with a haptic stylus device. This game serves as a more engaging way to encourage individuals with PD to perform hand motor tasks such as dropping, pulling up, and moving left or right. The device provided resisting force during the tasks, and a VR headset enhanced the game experience, making it more engaging and immersive. We examined the usability and efficacy of the VR game system with haptic feedback for upper-limb rehabilitation by collecting data from healthy and PD participants. Participants were asked to complete predefined task sessions and provide workload ratings using a NASA Task Load Index. Participants' skills and efficacy were also quantitatively assessed using task specific data. Haptic feedback, which controlled resistance, influenced user performance in movement trajectory, completion time, and task score significantly. These results are helpful in the development of personalized rehabilitation in this population.