Video game to aid stroke recovery

A computer game where players perform circus tricks has been launched in Britain as an innovative way of helping people overcome a stroke.

Experts from Newcastle University have teamed up with a professional game studio to create the first in a set of titles which will train patients to regain hand or arm movement.

Usually this takes months of intensive and expensive therapy, but the designers hope the Circus Challenge game could prove a fun, cheaper alternative.

Players use wireless controllers to try their hand at virtual circus acts such as lion-taming, being a trapeze artist or juggling.

Former ship-builder Danny Mann, from Dudley, Northumberland, tried the game and was impressed.

The 68-year-old, who had a stroke in February said: “This is the first time I’ve ever played a video game — I mean, I don’t even own a computer.

“It was good fun though it did feel like I was doing exercise and I worked up a sweat. The therapy exercises I normally have to do are dull but necessary, but this game is something different which encourages me to keep going with my therapy.”

This is the first game designed as a therapy to be played at home while still being fun, Newcastle University said.

Janet Eyre, professor of paediatric neuroscience said: “The brain can re-learn control of the weak arm but this needs frequent therapy over many months and there are not enough therapists to provide this on a one-to-one basis.

“80% of patients do not regain full recovery of arm and hand function and this really limits their independence and ability to return to work.

“With our video game, people get engrossed in the competition and action of the circus characters and forget that the purpose of the game is for therapy.”

Circus Challenge gets more difficult as players’ strength improve. The tasks require both gross and fine motor skills and can be played by wheelchair users.

The company now hopes to develop games to assist in therapies for other conditions such as cerebral palsy, chronic lung disease and dementia.

The project received £1.5m (€1.87m) from the health innovation challenge fund, a partnership between the WellcomeTrust and the department of health, to allow further development.

In Britain, 150,000 people have a stroke leading to a cost of care and loss of income of £4bn every year.