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Buttress SJ1, Barratt A1, Granat MH1, Roy B2
1Salford University, Health Sciences, Salford, Manchester, United Kingdom, 2Manchester University NHS Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom
Background: Physiotherapy is an essential part of treatment of patients with shoulder problems. The focus of treatment is usually centred on addressing physiotherapy goals, resulting in improvement in pain and function. Physiotherapy outcome is dependent on patient engagement and patient engagement and motivation plays an important role in determining the outcome of therapy. It is estimated that up to 65% of patients are either non or partially adherent to their rehabilitation program. Exergames, using videogaming to promote specific activity, could be promising way of engaging patients in targeted exercising.
Purpose: This study investigates if computerised physiotherapy using gamification principles are as effective as standard physiotherapy in the rehabilitation of shoulder problems.
Methods: Physiotherapy exergames were created using combination of commercially available hardware, the Microsoft Kinect and bespoke software. The exergames used were validated by mapping physiotherapy goals of physiotherapy which included; strength, range of movement, control, speed and kinetic chain activation.
A multicenter, randomised prospective controlled trial investigated exergames on patients with Shoulder Impingement Syndrome who had undergone Arthroscopic Subacromial Decompression surgery. The intervention group were provided with the automated sensor-based technology, allowing them to perform exergames and track their rehabilitation progress. The control group were treated by standard physiotherapy protocols. Assessements were performed preoperatively, and at 6 and 12 weeks post surgery.
The main outcome was of shoulder range of movement (abduction, forward flexion and external rotation) pre and post operatively.
Results: Both groups (intervention n=10; control n=10) showed significant improvement from pre-operative to 12 weeks in elevation, forward flexion and abduction planes. There was no significant difference between the groups at 12 weeks for abduction, forward flexion and external rotation.
Conclusion(s): Exergames may be used as an alternative for standard physiotherapy regimes, however further analysis is required focusing on patient engagement.
Implications: The use of technology by physiotherapists in the rehabilitation of patients with shoulder problems could be a substitute for standard physiotherapy the future.
Keywords: Exergames, Shoulder, Rehabilitation
Funding acknowledgements: Non applicable
Purpose: This study investigates if computerised physiotherapy using gamification principles are as effective as standard physiotherapy in the rehabilitation of shoulder problems.
Methods: Physiotherapy exergames were created using combination of commercially available hardware, the Microsoft Kinect and bespoke software. The exergames used were validated by mapping physiotherapy goals of physiotherapy which included; strength, range of movement, control, speed and kinetic chain activation.
A multicenter, randomised prospective controlled trial investigated exergames on patients with Shoulder Impingement Syndrome who had undergone Arthroscopic Subacromial Decompression surgery. The intervention group were provided with the automated sensor-based technology, allowing them to perform exergames and track their rehabilitation progress. The control group were treated by standard physiotherapy protocols. Assessements were performed preoperatively, and at 6 and 12 weeks post surgery.
The main outcome was of shoulder range of movement (abduction, forward flexion and external rotation) pre and post operatively.
Results: Both groups (intervention n=10; control n=10) showed significant improvement from pre-operative to 12 weeks in elevation, forward flexion and abduction planes. There was no significant difference between the groups at 12 weeks for abduction, forward flexion and external rotation.
Conclusion(s): Exergames may be used as an alternative for standard physiotherapy regimes, however further analysis is required focusing on patient engagement.
Implications: The use of technology by physiotherapists in the rehabilitation of patients with shoulder problems could be a substitute for standard physiotherapy the future.
Keywords: Exergames, Shoulder, Rehabilitation
Funding acknowledgements: Non applicable
Topic: Outcome measurement; Musculoskeletal: upper limb; Information management, technology & big data
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: University of Salford
Ethics committee: Health Sciences Ethics Committee
Ethics number: HSCR15/155
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
