Goal-oriented balance rehabilitation system for balance disorder

Balance is a critical component of daily activities and overall quality of life. This study aims to develop a cost-effective exercise system for the rehabilitation of balance disorders by combining a sensor module with target-oriented video games. The system, designed using a microcontroller-controlled sensor module and Unity game engine, features a game component that provides visual feedback and is synchronized with the platform movements. The system detects the patient's movements on the platform and translates them into simultaneous movements of the game character, enhancing both therapy participation and patient motivation. A clinical trial was conducted with 36 patients suffering from orthopedic and neurological balance disorders. The Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI) was used to analyze the scores obtained during the clinical evaluation. The results indicate that 91.96% of participants found the system engaging, and 97.70% believed it would contribute positively to their treatment process. The results indicate that game-based balance exercises contribute to rehabilitation by increasing patient motivation. This study highlights the potential of target-oriented games in balance therapy and suggests that future improvements, such as incorporating patient monitoring features and advanced hardware, along with 3D game designs, could further enhance the system's effectiveness.