Serious gaming in trauma rehabilitation Enhancing recovery after distal radius fractures

This thesis provides an overview of the steps taken to validate the ReValidate! serious game. This mobile game, controlled using a wearable motion sensor, was developed specifically for wrist rehabilitation after distal radius fractures.
Firstly, two systematic reviews describe the potential of commercially available games to improve functional outcomes in rehabilitation, and the opportunities for the use of smart technology in wrist rehabilitation. To continue, the development of the serious game is described and its basic potential for safe use in patient care is described. The face validity and content validity were evaluated in a trial including experts and potential users of the game, which showed that the game was useful and potentially effective. In the next validation step, game measurements to be used for home monitoring showed acceptable outcomes. The inter-rater reliability of the range of motion by experts was found to be comparable to that measured by the game, concluding that the game can be regarded a valid monitoring tool. The last chapters of the thesis describe the protocol and outcomes of the randomized controlled trial comparing the game to current standard treatment. Outcomes of this trial showed that while patients playing the game for rehabilitation completed shorter and fewer exercise sessions while achieving the same functional outcomes. In addition, patients using the game reported fewer physiotherapy visits. The final chapters of the thesis emphasize the importance for medical professionals of knowing rules and regulations associated with prescribing digital healthcare.