HEROES

PhD research starring gaming

Can playfully imitating movements in a video game help people train their balance? In particular during recovery after a stroke? Together with researchers from the University of Twente and RadboudUMC, we set out to answer that question. In co-creation we developed a prototype with which academics, healthcare professionals and patients conduct research together.

The power of gaming in your research


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Knowledge exchange between different disciplines
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Working together toward an applied product
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Data collection through the development process and playtesting
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PhD research with gaming

PhD research with serious gaming

Good balance is vital for stable walking and preventing falls, especially for people who have had a stroke. That one step in the recovery process can make all the difference. Unfortunately, there aren’t many opportunities to train your balance at home yet. Let alone in a fun and motivating way. This is what PhD researcher Aurora Ruiz Rodr?guez, together with colleagues at the University of Twente and Radboud University Nijmegen, wanted to change.

Game development is, at its core, a research process. Before anything is programmed, countless questions must be answered. This requires consultation between various specialists, the target audience and us as designers. This process always yields valuable and practically applicable insights – and, in the case of HEROES, an appealing game prototype that Lotte Hagedoorn, PhD researcher at RadboudUMC, was able to use to conduct follow-up research with patients.

Approach

HEROES development involved not only researchers, but also physical therapists and eHealth experts. After all, the movements in the game must be responsible and effective. In addition, together we mapped out practical frameworks and requirements. A game intended to be played (independently) at home logically uses different hardware and sensors than a game in a medical exercise lab. We provided technical advice appropriate to the frameworks and developed creative gameplay that matches the exercise advice of physical therapists. We also advised on collecting research data in an ethical and purposeful way.

In the HEROES game, a captain stands on a raft. The captain is occasionally thrown off balance – for example, by a bird that must be dodged – and then takes a step to avoid falling. The player of the game must take the same step as best he can. The game can be played with a laptop and a KINECT, a small sensor that is easy to deploy in the home situation.

Our team was introduced to state-of-the-art technology for balance training!

Fragment Radio 1: Hoe balanstraining met een game mensen met beroerte kan helpen

Bron: NPOradio1.nl (Verslaggever Roel Pauw sprak met onderzoekster Lotte Hagedoorn en patiënt Ronald.)

Results

The game prototype was tested with patients in collaboration with six rehabilitation centers in the Netherlands.

Study participant Harold found the game accessible and easy to use. In an interview with Klimmendaal, one of the participating rehabilitation centers, he said: “It was fun and challenging to do, and the game is cleverly made. (…) All you need is some space behind your screen, and the screen has to be compatible with the game. The big advantage of training at home is that you can do it whenever you want. For me, traveling to a training location wasn’t a problem, but I can imagine that it would be for other patients. Training at home solves that.”

PhD research with gaming - HEROES Balance Training
Photo: Emma Lloyd | uTwente


On October 28, 2026, Lotte Hagedoorn (Radboudumc) will defend her PhD on her pilot study with the HEROES game. We’ll share the resulting publications here.

Research in the heart of society

At 8D, we support researchers in integrating a design approach into their work, from project design to creative product development and process supervision. This participatory methodologies help solve complex, human-centered issues and embed research results sustainably in society.

Participatory research in society

Contribute to research?

Would you like to contribute to the research? You can find all the information on this page from Radboudumc.

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