Exergames for Parkinson's Disease patients: The balloon goon game

Abstract

Parkinson's Disease patients attending traditional long-term rehabilitation programs may lose interest and eventually drop out, as a direct result of the repeatability of the prescribed exercises. Technology-supported opportunities in the form of character-based, virtual reality exercise games (called “exergames”) can engage players to train in a non-linear fashion by providing an experience which varies from one game loop the next. The present work reports on a Kinect-based Unity3D exergame tailored to PD patients with mild to moderate symptoms which can be used in both clinical and home settings. The game supports a collection of gestures drawn from existing PD-specific training programs which advocate big and purposeful movements, intended to improve postural stability and reflexes as well as increase the overall mobility of upper and lower limbs. When a patient's movements “match” a programmed gesture, a 3D cartoon avatar responds accordingly. Finally, in-game decision-making purports to improve the patient's cognitive reaction.