An AI-Based Exergame to Assist Occupational and Physical Therapy

Artificial Intelligence (AI) will become more prominent in healthcare as the industry continues to rapidly expand. Specifically, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy (OT&PT) are facing many challenges. In this paper, an AI-based exergame is developed to resolve challenges related to staffing shortages, group therapy, excess downtime, and a lack of patient motivation at home. The game also provides a more engaging therapy technique for patients and enhances their therapy experience. D1 and D2 flexion/extension are Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) stretches used during therapy that assist with restoring a patient's quality of life. An AI model is developed to recognize the D1 and D2 flexion/extension stretches which is how the patient controls an object in the game while completing their therapy. At the end of the game, the patient receives a score based on the completed stretches to make therapy more enjoyable. The proposed method integrates AI with OT&PT for a more productive and satisfying therapy experience for both therapists and patients.