JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a significant health concern in the workplace, and while ergonomic interventions are commonly employed, their long-term effectiveness is often questioned. Serious Games (SGs), designed to go beyond entertainment, have emerged as a promising tool that may address some of the limitations of traditional interventions, such as the need for sustained impact and greater worker engagement.

Objective:

This scoping review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of SGs in preventing MSDs by synthesizing the existing literature on their use as prevention tools. Specifically, it seeks to identify key characteristics of SGs—including design, gameplay, and learning outcomes—that contribute to enhancing the prevention or mitigation of MSDs.

Methods:

A systematic literature search was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines using several scientific databases. Studies were selected based on predefined inclusion criteria, resulting in a final pool of eligible articles for qualitative analysis.

Results:

A total of 10 studies were included in the review, each providing different perspectives on the application of SGs for MSD prevention. The studies were categorized into two main groups: those focusing on the design and development of SGs, and those assessing the effectiveness of these games. Findings revealed significant variability in design methodologies, types of devices used, gameplay, and anticipated outcomes. While some studies were oriented towards rehabilitation or occupational health and safety, only a few directly targeted MSD prevention, with a predominant emphasis on physical risk factors.

Conclusions:

This review highlights the need for standardized protocols and criteria in the design and evaluation of SGs to improve study comparability and impact measurement. The integration of MSD prevention into SGs remains limited and is often approached indirectly through related themes such as workplace safety or rehabilitation. Future research should focus on developing and validating more comprehensive SG-based interventions, exploring their potential as effective tools in occupational health. The findings indicate a substantial gap in empirical evidence regarding the effectiveness of SGs for MSD prevention, largely due to the disparity in experimental approaches.