Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine
Personalized balance games for children with cerebral palsy: A pilot study
Pre-post experimental study revealed an increase in balance function in children with CP after 2 weeks of intensive daily training with the Stasism platform (Kachmar O, Kushnir A, Fedchyshyn B, et al. Personalized balance games for children with cerebral palsy: A pilot study. J Pediatr Rehabil Med. 2021;14(2):237-245. doi:10.3233/PRM-190666).
Link to paper:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33720857/
Summary
Twenty-five children with CP (aged 5–18) were split into two groups for two weeks of short daily game sessions: one played personalized balance games on the GABLE serious-gaming platform, the other played Nintendo Wii games. Trunk control and dynamic balance scores improved significantly in the personalized-games group but not in the control group, suggesting that tailored rehabilitation games can improve balance in children with CP.
Key Researchers
Dr. Oleh Kachmar, Dr. Anna Kushnir
IEEE Sensors Journal
STASISM: A Versatile Serious Gaming Multi-Sensor Platform for Personalized Telerehabilitation and Telemonitoring
STASISM, a sensor-based system, enables individualized remote healthcare through telerehabilitation and telemonitoring. It integrates various sensors and data analytics to collect and analyze physiological, kinematic, and environmental data. The platform facilitates customized rehabilitation, remote progress monitoring, and real-time feedback, ensuring secure data transmission and storage. STASISM aims to improve the accessibility and effectiveness of remote healthcare, enhancing patient well-being and allowing healthcare professionals to provide personalized care beyond traditional clinical environments.
Link to paper:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38257442/
Key Researchers
Dr. Oleh Kachmar, Dr. Anna Kushnir, PhD. Bruno Bonnechère
Rehabweek 2023
Stasism platform is a feasible dual-tasking instrument to improve balance and cognitive function in children with CP (Rehabweek 2023).
Users’ perspectives on dual-task special computer games to improve balance and cognitive function in children with cerebral palsy
Summary
This qualitative study interviewed five physical therapists and twenty-one families who had used three balance-board-controlled Stasism games for two weeks at pilot centers in Ukraine, Spain and Ireland. Both therapists and parents rated the platform as a useful, engaging rehabilitation tool, most wanted to keep using it, and their suggestions (such as per-game technical guides and in-game tips) are feeding into future platform updates. A follow-up experimental study on balance and cognition is planned.
Key Researchers
Dr. Bruno Bonnechère, Dr. Anna Kushnir
International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football
Designing classification exercises for the International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football (IFCPF)
This collaborative initiative is driven by the overarching goal of revolutionizing IFCPF’s classification process through the utilization of Stasism’s innovative technologies to quantify variables and yield precise data. By doing so, it aims to provide a solid foundation for informed decision-making regarding the distribution of the player with CP to the relevant environment to play football. Every facet of this joint mission is dedicated to dismantling barriers and promoting equitable access to participation and superior classification standards for all individuals with CP.
Key Researchers
Dr. Raul Reina Vaillo, Ph.D Maria Isabel Cornejo, Dr. Matías Henríquez
University of Hasselt
Collaboration
Collaboration with the University of Hasselt (Hasselt, Belgium)
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Stasism and UHasselt, specifically REVAL Rehabilitation Research Group. According to MoU, the Stasism platform will be used in various research and educational activities. Besides, under the international collaboration of UHasselt, the Stasism platform will be tested for stroke survivors in the local rehabilitation units in the Republic of Congo.
Key Researchers
Professor Bruno Bonnechère
Assistant Professor 'Technology-Supported Rehabilitation'
Technology Lab
Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences
REVAL Rehabilitation Research Center
https://www.uhasselt.be/en/onderzoeksgroepen-en/reval/technorehab-lab
PhD Project
PhD project in University of Hasselt (Hasselt, Belgium), where Stasism is used.
Serious games as a dual tasking training and evaluation tool to improve cognitive function and balance in children with cerebral palsy
Introduction
Cognitive function refers to multiple mental processes, including but not limited to memory, language, perception, attention, recognition, problem-solving, psychomotor speed, and executive functions. Cognitive impairment is a significant reason for low social functioning and an essential factor affecting rehabilitation outcomes in children with cerebral palsy (CP) (Ishani et al., 2020). Innovative technologies, including ones that apply gamification, have the potential to be a cost-effective and high-engaging intervention and assessment, especially in pediatric rehabilitation. Moreover, they can be used in various settings, such as clinics, schools, and homes in countries with different income levels. Previous research demonstrated that game-based dual-task interventions could enhance balance function and cognition in children with CP (Szturm et al., 2022).
Research aims
The primary research aim will be to assess the effects of serious games on cognitive function, balance, and participation in children with CP.
Secondary aims:
- to explore existing digital tools aimed at evaluating cognitive function in children with developmental disabilities
- to investigate how performance in special serious games relates to cognitive function
- to assess the feasibility of using the novel computer-based test to assess dynamic balance in children with CP compared with traditional assessment
- to conduct a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effects of special serious games as dual-tasking for cognitive function, balance, and participation in children with CP
Key Researchers
Professor Bruno Bonnechère, Dr. Anna Kushnir
Polytechnic of Porto
Master Project in School of Health Sciences - Polytechnic of Porto (Porto, Portugal)
Overview of the study protocol
This study aims to analyze postural control in children with neuromotor disorders after physiotherapy intervention using video games from the Stasism platform, specifically "Crazy Racing" and "Super Surfer" games. The study will have a single group with a before-and-after control design. It will be conducted at the Cerebral Palsy Associations of Braga and Porto. The Physio Sensing platform with the assessment protocols "Limits of stability", "Body Sway" and "Sit-to-stand" will be used for evaluation. The group will undergo four weeks of physiotherapy (2x per week), an intermediate evaluation moment M1 after this period, and finally, a last evaluation moment M2 after an intervention with the games+physiotherapy (2x per week).
Key Researchers
Master Thesis: Maria Rui Silva Ferreira
CHU Sainte-Justine
Collaboration with the CHU Sainte-Justine (Canada)
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Stasism and CHU Sainte-Justine. Stasism platform will be used in various research and educational activities.
Key Researchers
Professor Danielle Levac
