"Virtual physiotherapist" helps paralysed patients exercise using computer
  games
From: Imperial College London - 10/06/2015
By: Thomas Angus, Francesca Davenport, Martin Sayers

A simple device can improve the ability of patients with arm disability to
play physiotherapy-like computer games, according to new research.

Researchers at the UK's Imperial College London recently demonstrated the
gripAble device, which enables paralyzed stroke patients to play computer
games, boosted the proportion of patients able to direct movements on a PC
tablet screen by 50 percent versus standard methods. The device features a
lightweight electronic handgrip that wirelessly interacts with the tablet to
enable users to play arm-training games. Users squeeze, turn, or lift the
handgrip, which vibrates in response to their gameplay. The researchers note
the device can detect the minuscule flicker movements of severely paralyzed
patients and channel them into controlling the game. They say gripAble
enabled more than half of severely disabled patients to engage with
arm-training software, whereas none of the patients could employ conventional
control methods such as swiping and tapping on tablets and smartphones. "The
use of mobile gaming could provide a cost-effective and easily available
means to improve the arm movements of stroke patients, but in order to be
effective patients of all levels of disability should be able to access it,"
says Imperial College researcher Paul Bentley. He notes the low-cost gripAble
device will be developed further "so we can help more patients who are
currently suffering from the effects of poor arm and upper body mobility."

Read the entire article and view a video (3:10) at:
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/newssummary/news_4-10-2016-16-14-6

Links:
gripAble
http://www.gripable.co

UK Researchers Develop gripAble Arm Physiotherapy Device
www.rehabpub.com/2016/10/uk-researchers-develop-gripable-arm-physiotherapy-device

Democratizing Neurorehabilitation: How Accessible are Low-Cost Mobile-Gaming
  Technologies for Self-Rehabilitation of Arm Disability in Stroke?
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0163413

Pual Bentley
http://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/p.bentley