Video Games in Concussion Recovery

Concussion patients undergo rehabilitation programs to regain brain and motor function. Standard rehabilitation programs generally include activities that are repetitive and intensive. This is beneficial as studies have demonstrated that repetition of activities is vital in concussion recovery. However, unlike video games, these repetitive activities can feel lacklustre and time-consuming.

 

In recent years, video games have become more affordable and available. There are a variety of video game devices, such as computers, handheld remotes, or VR technologies. Due to the variety of devices and games, video games are often enjoyable and interesting to most individuals. Moreover, video games have the capacity to enhance active learning as well as deliver task-orientated, engaging, and repetitive activities that may prove conducive to concussion recovery. Thus, video games are becoming increasingly popular in concussion rehabilitation.

 

The following are some advantages of video games in concussion recovery:

 

  1. Video games can increase attention. Video games are comprised of rich visual images, which help capture the attention of patients. Many video games also have multiple objects moving simultaneously or visually crowded images. As a result, repetition of these games can encourage concussion patients to monitor specific objects in visually crowded environments.  

 

  1. Video games can increase motivation. Video games can enhance motivation through rewards. More specifically, video games have a scoring system. This motivates patients to improve their score, during every gaming session. The challenging nature of video games also motivates concussion patients as they often feel challenged and motivated to win the game.

 

  1. Video games can enhance problem-solving skills. Video games are designed to ensure players practice their problem-solving skills through repetition. Hence why, completing levels is only possible when players understand the game or have acquired the necessary problem-solving skills. In addition, the difficulty of a game typically increases as the game progresses and this enables individuals to further advance their problem-solving skills.

 

  1. Video games can improve memory. Video game players must remember instructions that are not always available throughout the game. These instructions are usually provided at the start of the game or players must exit the game to view the instructions. Furthermore, to play video games, concussion patients must also remember specific buttons on video game devices. These necessary tasks help improve memory among concussion patients.

 

  1. Video games can improve coordination. There are numerous sounds and visuals emitted from video games. It is critical for players to pay attention to these sounds and visuals in order to win the game. Video games also require players to perform specific actions or activities. Therefore, video games can improve physical, visual and audial coordination in concussion patients. Among this, there are dedicated video games that the medical community have developed to improve coordination in concussion patients.

 

  1. Virtual reality video games can improve mobility and endurance. The repetition of virtual reality games encourages individuals to repeatedly perform physical actions that may enhance mobility. The visual stimulus in video games also helps distract patients from mobility restrictions that may otherwise be honed in on. As a result, the repetitive nature in virtual reality games improves mobility and endurance in concussion patients.

 

– Written by Dorothy Dinh

 

References

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De Kloet, A. J., Berger, M. A. M., Verhoeven, I. M. A. J., van Stein Callenfels, K., & Vlieland, T. P. M. V. (2012). Gaming supports youth with acquired brain injury? A pilot study. Brain Injury, 26(7-8), 1021-1029. doi:10.3109/02699052.2012.654592

 

McClanachan, N. J., Gesch, J., Wuthapanich, N., Fleming, J., & Kuys, S. S. (2013). Feasibility of gaming console exercise and its effect on endurance, gait and balance in people with an acquired brain injury. Brain Injury, 27(12), 1402-1408. doi:10.3109/02699052.2013.823654

 

Saywell, N., Taylor, N., Rodgers, E., Skinner, L., & Boocock, M. (2017). Play-based interventions improve physical function for people with adult-acquired brain injury: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Clinical Rehabilitation, 31(2), 145-157. doi:10.1177/0269215516631384

 

Stanmore, E., Stubbs, B., Vancampfort, D., de Bruin, E. D., & Firth, J. (2017). The effect of active video games on cognitive functioning in clinical and non-clinical populations: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 78, 34-43. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.04.011

 

Straudi, S., Severini, G., Sabbagh Charabati, A., Pavarelli, C., Gamberini, G., Scotti, A., & Basaglia, N. (2017). The effects of video game therapy on balance and attention in chronic ambulatory traumatic brain injury: An exploratory study. BMC Neurology, 17(1), 86-86. doi:10.1186/s12883-017-0871-9