ReWiiRe (Research in Wii Rehabilitation) : user involvement in the development of a personalised rehabilitation system for arm re-education after stroke

Warland, Alyson and Kilbride, Cherry and Tsekleves, Emmanouil and Skordoulis, Donysios and Paraskevopoulos, Ioannis (2012) ReWiiRe (Research in Wii Rehabilitation) : user involvement in the development of a personalised rehabilitation system for arm re-education after stroke. International Journal of Stroke, 7 (Suppl.). p. 27. ISSN 1747-4930

Abstract

Introduction: Virtual reality gaming systems, such as Nintendo Wii, are increasingly used in rehabilitation to deliver the intensity and repetition of practice necessary to enhance recovery. This abstract reports serviceuser (SU) involvement in the ReWiiRe project (www.rewiire.org.uk); which investigated feasibility and acceptability of rehabilitation using Wii and the development of a personalised stroke treatment (PST), using adapted Wii technology, for arm re-education post-stroke. SUs worked collaboratively with therapists and engineers to develop data-collection tools (aphasia-friendly questionnaire, interview schedules); advised on design and testing of equipment prototypes and design and content of bespoke exercises and games, ensuring that PST was relevant and meaningful. A SU participated in a two week case-study testing PST. Method: Mixed methods: questionnaire, semi-structured interviews and single case-study. Results: 33 questionnaires and 10 interviews were completed. 87.9% (29/33) questionnaire respondents felt Wii helped with rehabilitation. 57.6% (19/33) reported difficulty using equipment. 33.3% (5/15) of SUs reported difficulties using the hand-held remote controls. Therapists believed use of standard Wii was limited due to the high level of dexterity, movement and coordination necessary to operate the system. A case-study using PST demonstrated a high level of user-acceptability and positive changes on outcome measures. Conclusion: Use of standard Wii in arm rehabilitation post-stroke is limited. Issues identified from this study, together with input from SUs have been used to iteratively inform the design and development of PST using adapted Wii technology for arm rehabilitation. Proof of concept was confirmed through a case-study. Further study using the PST is planned.