An intelligent assistive tool using exergaming and response surface methodology for patients with brain disorders

Abstract

Intelligent assistive technologies represent a concept that refers to products and services that can offset functional limitations, facilitate independent life, improve their quality of life, and enable people with disabilities to reach their own potential. This paper presents a medical recovery exergaming that includes a Microsoft Kinect Motion Sensor, designed for upper limb rehabilitation, especially for old people with brain disorders. The game is 3D and during the game, the user has to pick up the red or green apples according to a level, and different angles of inclination of the neck, hand, shoulder, and so on are measured and then a total score is generated. To know if the patient has progressed in his medical recovery, the final score should be increased. In order to find the score that a subject without a locomotor system disorder can achieve, we have optimized the game with mathematical modeling and canonical analysis by applying response surface methodology and multiple nonlinear regression. The exergaming based on VR active games represents a useful tool in physical and cognitive rehabilitation for people with motor impairments or brain disorders, considering the advantage of home-training.