Designing movement-based interactive technology supporting balance training in older adults

Abstract

With an increasing global population of older adults, falls are a critical problem resulting in numerous injuries, loss of independence, and fatalities. In this regard, balance training and rehabilitation play a major role in maintaining, improving, or restoring functional balance. While traditional balance training exercises have shown to be effective in improving balance, current advancements in information and communication technology (ICT) have resulted in numerous interactive movement-based applications, some of which have shown potential in training balance. This has resulted in increasing applications of movement-based interactive technology within the healthcare sector for purposes such as balance training and rehabilitation. However, despite the identified potential and increasing attention given to movement-based interactive technology, there is limited knowledge of designing for balance training and rehabilitation. The overall aim of the thesis is to inform the design of movement-based interactive technology supporting balance training in older adults. The research conducted as part of the thesis has resulted in five journal and conference papers (see Part II) that address various aspects of designing for balance training among older adults: design recommendations, movement characteristics, motivational factors, and tangible interactive technology. While the individual research papers provide specific insight into the various aspects of designing movement-based interactive technology for balance training in older adults, the thesis as a whole provides the following key findings: • Effective balance training design solutions do not require strict puppeteering. • Perceived health effects and joy are the main motivational factors for older adults. • Simple, tangible interactive solutions show promise for balance training. • As a tool for physiotherapists, a key success factor for balance training solutions is that they are easily tailorable. In conclusion, the thesis suggests looking beyond conventional screen-based solutions. Simple, tangible interactive technology shows potential in physiotherapy for overcoming various drawbacks associated with screen-based solutions.