Computer Game-based Exercise Program Targeting Manual Dexterity for People With Spinal Cord Injury or Stroke.

Summary

Recovery programs of the upper extremity can be extensive, for many adults with neurological disorders/injuries, including maintenance exercises that need to be done continually to maintain function and to prevent secondary disabilities. However increasing demands and shrinking funds are making it harder to meet the rehabilitation needs of Manitobans and Canadians with chronic disabilities. There is a need for innovation to improve the accessibility and engagement of rehabilitation programs for adults with upper extremity (UE) motor impairments due to spinal cord and acquired brain injuries.

The purpose of this research proposal is the further development and validation of a multipurpose plug-n-play rehab gaming system for use in community centers, in particular, at First Step Wellness center. It's no sleight of hand our gaming system provides a basis for repetitive, task-specific therapy focused on manual dexterity; object handling and manipulation for adults with spinal cord and acquired brain injuries. It was designed to transition engaging, highly effective and personalized rehabilitation programs to function in community centers , and with automated monitoring (tele monitoring), which to manage and progress outreach programs.

The gaming system consist of hardware and software components the hardware includes a low-cost, portable smart exercise manipulanduu device (EMD), with assistive technology. The EMD is designed as a HID compliant plug-n-play computer input device that emulates a standard optical computer mouse. Therefore these devices can be used with most any common/ modern computer video game that function by mouse control. Inclusion of "fun" gaming elements is intended to provide extra motivation for the patients in the form of a challenge and a more enjoyable means of encouraging them to follow tedious, repetitive movements that are often a part of the rehabilitation process. Therapeutic value can be derived from both the types of object manipulation tasks (use of the EMD), as well as the choice of computer games. Many inexpensive and readily available common computer games exist that require different levels of movement amplitude, speeds, accuracy repetition, cognitive enhancements, and offer sufficient diversity to appeal to a broad range of individual preferences (both children and adults).

A purpose-built Rehabilitation game (RTP game) has also been developed and validated. It was designed to gather event data and synchronize it with patient movements while they practice a range of game-based exercises with the hand and arm. This will provide; a) automated monitoring, assessment embedded into treatment, b) Immediate feedback to client, and c) electronic outcome measures to quantify and track client's performance over time Clinical support of outreach programs with protocols that can be easily updated will help create better-targeted and personalized solutions for patients and achieve the desired rehabilitation outcomes.

The innovation of this approach comes from the implementation of well-designed, yet inexpensive and easy-to-use hardware and computer software (i.e. in essence a computer mouse and a computer game). It can be judged in terms of the fact that the proposed system would provide highly effective exercise programs with embedded assessment and timely feedback/support for use in community centers and ultimately the home (tele rehabilitation). This research will contribute to the development and validation of promising, new technologies that have he capacity to become widely adopted as a viable, affordable eHealth tool that will support the quality of life and participation of Canadians living with chronic disabilities.

Conditions

• Stroke, Spinal Cord Injury

Interventions

OTHER

games based exercise

Range of motion and strengthening exercises

Sponsors & Collaborators

• First Steps Wellness Centre, Winnipeg

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• First Steps Wellness Centre, Regina

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• University of Manitoba

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Tony Szturm · Department of Physiotherapy, College of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Manitoba

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-10-01

Primary Completion

2024-06-30

Completion

2024-12-30

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations