JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Incorporating serious games and ICT advancements 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.

Objective:

Since therapists and other healthcare practitioners play crucial roles in both patient recovery and the establishment of an effective game-based therapy, thus, the objective of this study is 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.

Methods:

A Design Science approach was adopted to achieve this research objective. To gather feedback, explore the needs and desires for a serious game, and understand the requirements for game-based physical rehabilitation, a focus group of 27 participants was conducted. The group first tested commercially available games and then evaluated the game prototype mockups created.

Results:

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

Conclusions:

Therefore, 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.