Action video game to aid recovery from stroke

Phys.org: May 17th, 2012.

A video game which improves and overcomes the physical symptoms of a stroke has been revealed.

Stroke experts at Newcastle University working with new company Limbs Alive Ltd have developed the first in a planned library of action video games where the movements used to control the game are designed to enable the patient to re-learn control of their weak arm and hand after stroke.

The team at Newcastle University has received a £1.5m award from the Health Innovation Challenge Fund, a partnership between the Wellcome Trust and the Department of Health, to allow further development so that the stroke patient playing these games in their own home can be remotely monitored by a therapist.

After a stroke, a patient can recover control of the weak arm or hand even after a long time but this requires many months of expert, daily therapy. Providing the support and motivation to enable people to carry out such a demanding programme is costly and difficult and this often limits recovery. This is where the newly-developed suite of computer games called “Circus Challenge” can make a real difference.

These are the first action video games designed specifically to be played at home and to provide an expert therapy programme, whilst still capturing all the fun and challenge of a game used for entertainment. Read More