Design Guidelines for a Game-Based Physical Rehabilitation System: Focus Group Study

Incorporating serious games and advancements in information and communication technologies into physical rehabilitation can substantially enhance the process, provide unique benefits, and improve its effectiveness and efficiency. While recent literature highlights various game-based interventions for physical rehabilitation, there is a lack of comprehensive guidance on how to design and develop systems that effectively address the actual needs of therapists, practitioners, and individuals with physical disabilities.

The objective of this study was to explore the intentions, needs, and desires of therapists and other practitioners, as well as to examine the factors and determinants influencing the effectiveness and efficacy of game-based physical rehabilitation, since therapists and other health care practitioners play crucial roles in both patient recovery and the establishment of an effective game-based therapy.

A design science approach was adopted to achieve this research objective. A focus group of 27 participants was conducted to gather feedback, identify user needs, and understand the requirements for game-based physical rehabilitation. The participants first tested commercially available games and then evaluated mock-ups of the proposed game prototypes.

This study provides essential design insights and guidelines for designers and researchers, focusing on the practical needs and requirements of game-based physical rehabilitation systems.

As proof of concept, these guidelines will be used in the next phase of our research, which involves designing and developing a game-based physical rehabilitation system.