Multidisciplinary and Interinstitutional Collaboration during the COVID-19 Pandemic: from basic research to the technological development of Exergames for Rehabilitation

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted technological research and development. The pandemic encouraged remote collaboration and data collection. Here, experiences on opportunities and challenges encountered in developing two studies on exergames for physical rehabilitation in older adults and children are analyzed and shared. The first study deals with fundamental research, where a scoping review was conducted to investigate the use of exergames in older adults. Methodological challenges included establishing a standard frame of reference, coordinating multidisciplinary efforts, and adapting to remote collaboration during the pandemic. The second study focused on developing a virtual reality video game, BioGAIT, for gait rehabilitation in pediatric patients. Methodological challenges included remote collaboration between students and researchers, limited access to resources and infrastructure, and evaluations and tests. In general, the authors show the importance of teamwork, communication, time management, and selection of work tools. They stress the need for clear goals, shared leadership, trust-building, technology-enabled remote collaboration, multidisciplinary approaches, and peer support to address coordination and motivation.