An Approach for Automatic Adaptation of Serious Games Applied to Virtual Motor Rehabilitation

Virtual rehabilitation has seen the use of game design principles to create serious games and exergames aimed at further involving the patient in therapy to increase adherence and compliance. The addition of game design elements to the therapeutic context can keep patients engaged throughout the exercises, which are characterized as repetitive and monotonous. Studies involving virtual rehabilitation with the use of serious games have obtained promising results, but there are still challenges regarding the possibility of automatic adaptation based on metrics associated with the limitations and needs of each individual. This paper proposes an approach to automatic adaptation to serious games applied to virtual motor rehabilitation. A game was developed as a proof of concept and experiments were conducted with physiotherapists and typical users to evaluate the feasibility of applying it in real therapy sessions. The results indicate the preference of physiotherapists for games with automatic adaptation, which demonstrates positive attitudes toward integrating this technology into rehabilitation practices. Usability feedback from healthcare professionals and typical users suggested ease of interaction and highlighted areas for improvement, including the potential of virtual rehabilitation games to optimize therapy outcomes.