A Serious Game that Can Aid Physiotherapy Treatment in Children Using Dennis Brown Orthotics

Abstract

This article presents a Serious Game, a playful tool, that can aid physiotherapeutic treatment in children with Congenital Clubfoot, also known as Congenital Talipes Equinovarus (CTEV), aged 18-36 months, who use Dennis Brown Orthotics (DBO). The main objective is to encourage them to squat, a natural position for this age group. The sample consisted of 47 children, 11 with congenital crooked feet. The test and applicability of the Serious Game occurred through the analysis of the degrees of interest and interaction of each volunteer child with the Serious Game; as well as the ability to measure the time spent during your entertainment. The results found were: (1) 81% of children with clubfoot corresponded and/or exceeded the time of 5 min in the squat position; (2) 25% of children with clubfoot, 40% in 2-year-old children without congenital anomaly and 6% in 3-year-old children were able to interact with the Serious Game in the crouching position; (3) 85% of children with clubfoot, 48% of 2-year-old children without anomaly, 98% of 3-year-old children without anomaly interacted with the Serious Game; (4) The Serious Game was accepted by 90% of the children with clubfoot, 75% of 2-year-old children without congenital anomaly, 80% of 3-year-old children without congenital anomaly. From the proportions obtained it’s suggested that the children, mostly independent of age and congenital condition, accepted and interacted with the Serious Game, which makes it possible to provide evidence about the Serious Games to assist in the rehabilitation of children who use the Dennis Brown Orthotics, and to direct new research fields both at the level of Biomedical Engineering and Physiotherapy.