Applying Game-Based Approaches for Physical Rehabilitation of Poststroke Patients: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE: A large number of patients need critical physical rehabilitation after the stroke. This study aimed to review and report the result of published studies, in which newly emerged games were employed for physical rehabilitating in poststroke patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This systematic review study was performed based on the PRISMA method. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, IEEE Xplore Digital Library, and ISI Web of Science was conducted from January 1, 2014, to November 9, 2020, to identify related articles. Studies have been entered in this review based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, in which new games have been used for physical rehabilitation. RESULTS: Of the 1326 retrieved studies, 60 of them met our inclusion criteria. Virtual reality-oriented games were the most popular type of physical rehabilitation approach for poststroke patients. “The Nintendo Wii Fit” game was used more than other games. The reviewed games were mostly operated to balance training and limb mobilization. Based on the evaluation results of the utilized games, only in three studies, applied games were not effective. In other studies, games had effective outcomes for target body members. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that modern games are efficient in poststroke patients' physical rehabilitation and can be used alongside conventional methods.