Games That Heal

Recovery after strokes is a difficult, protracted, manpower-consuming process. Success depends on the discipline and perseverance of the individual patient. Superior results are achieved under professional supervision and instruction in specialised facilities. But once patients are discharged, further recovery depends fully on their motivation to keep up their daily excercise at home. More often than not, this is when the recovery curve flattens out disppointingly. Can digital systems in general, and especially „serious games“, bring recovering stroke patients to stick to their long-term rehabilitation training schedules? This is literally a billion dollar question. Success in automatising support and supervision of at least late phases of rehabilitation training would produce huge relief for public health systems. Improved chances for a successful return to a productive working life, self-suffiency or at least reduced need for assistance would enrich both patients and society.