Kinect-Based Exergames Tailored to Parkinson Patients

Ioannis Pachoulakis,Anastasia Analyti,Nikolaos Papadopoulos

doi:10.1155/2018/2618271

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative movement disorder where motor dysfunction gradually increases. PD-specific dopaminergic drugs can ameliorate symptoms, but neurologists also strongly recommend physiotherapy combined with regular exercise. As there is no known cure for PD, traditional rehabilitation programs eventually tire and bore patients to the point of losing interest and dropping out of those programs just because of the predictability and repeatability of the exercises. This can be avoided with the help of current technology, character-based, interactive 3D games promote physical training in a nonlinear fashion, and can provide experiences that change each time the game is played. Such “exergames” (a combination of the words “exercise” and “game”) challenge patients into performing exercises of varying complexity in a playful and interactive environment. In this work we present a Unity3D-based platform hosting two exergames tailored to PD patients with mild to moderate symptoms. The platform employs Microsoft Kinect, an affordable off-the-shelf motion capture sensor that can be easily installed in both home and clinical settings. Platform navigation and gameplay rely on a collection of gestures specifically developed for this purpose and are based upon training programs tailored to PD. These gestures employ purposeful, large-amplitude movements intended to improve postural stability and reflexes and increase upper and lower limb mobility. When the patient’s movements, as detected by Kinect, “match” a preprogrammed gesture, an onscreen 3D cartoon avatar responds according to the game context at hand. In addition, ingame decision-making aims at improving cognitive reaction.

Highlights

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a multisystem neurodegenerative disorder caused by the depletion of dopamine in the substantia nigra area of the brain, which results in both motor and nonmotor clinical symptoms [1]
Patients with PD in the early stages typically show some level of motor dysfunction, patients at more advanced states show nonmotor cognitive, behavioral, and mental-related symptoms [1, 2]
Main platform navigation and gameplay adheres to PD-specific design requirements and principles drawn from the bibliography and presented in [21]

Summary

Introduction

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a multisystem neurodegenerative disorder caused by the depletion of dopamine in the substantia nigra area of the brain, which results in both motor and nonmotor clinical symptoms [1]. A custom collection of gestures tailored to the PD condition has been designed to navigate the platform and game menu and to interact with game objects in the sense that when the player’s movement “matches” a gesture programmed in a game, a 3D cartoon avatar moves as programmed in that game context These gestures have been adopted from existing training programs (e.g., [28]) aiming at improving postural stability and reflexes as well as increasing overall mobility for upper & lower limbs. This approach is in line with the findings of Farley and Koshland [14], who demonstrate measurable benefits in limb speed and agility for PD patients practicing large amplitude training in the sense of performing extended but purposeful and fluent movements.

The Balloon Goon Game

Gestures and Animations

The Slope Creep Game

Discussion and Future