Abstract
Video games have proven useful in physical rehabilitation therapy. Accessibility, however, is limited for some groups such as the elderly or patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). We explore the potential of fully immersive video games as a rehabilitation tool in PD patients. Four patients with mild-moderate PD (3 males:1 female, 53–71 years) participated in the study. Training consisted in two immersive virtual reality video gaming sessions. Outcomes were evaluated using System Usability Scale (SUS), Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ), Game Experience Questionnaire-post game (GEQ), an ad hoc satisfaction questionnaire and perceived effort. All participants completed the sessions without adverse effects (100%), without SSQ symptoms reported. Post-gaming SUS was >75% in both sessions (range 75–80%). Post-gaming GEQ scores were 3.3–4.0/4 in both sessions. Immersive virtual reality video gaming is feasible in patients with mild-moderate PD, with positive usability and patient satisfaction, and no adverse effects.
Highlights
Subjects’ exclusion criteria were inability to correctly respond to the assessment protocol according to the clinicians judgment; presence of cardiovascular, pulmonary or musculoskeletal condition that according to physiotherapist judgment affects patients’ ability to participate in the study; presence of severe visual loss that could interfere with the ability to see the Immersive virtual reality (IVR) simulation as well as vertigo, epilepsy and psychosis
The results showed that the IVR platform and the selected experiences lend validity to the proposition of developing an exergaming program as a rehabilitation tool for this population
Heart rate measurements yielded disparate values in one case, where the subject’s average HR showed significantly higher values in the second session. This fact supports the idea that the intensity of work undertaken in the second intervention could be established as a reference session for a future longer-term training, we suggest that a future research direction is to provide standardized exercise protocol in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) if the aims are, for example, to improve gait, balance or strength
Summary
There is scientific evidence supporting the participation in exergaming programs designed for entertainment platforms such as Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox or Sony PlayStation, which represents an economical and motivating alternative [8]. These programs have been applied to different groups: healthy elderly people [9], post stroke [10] and even Parkinson’s disease (PD) [11], and have demonstrated benefits in both physical and psychological aspects, improving physical activity levels, the performance of daily activities, balance, and cognitive functions in older people [12]
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