Cycling Game: Exploring the Acceptability and Use of Gamified Rehabilitation Exercise for Older Adults in Long-Term Care

Cycling Game: Exploring the Acceptability and Use of Gamified Rehabilitation Exercise for Older Adults in Long-Term Care

Cycling Game:

Gamified rehabilitation exercises enhance motivation and engagement for older adults with functional and cognitive impairments in LTC homes.

This study utilizes an exergaming system developed by the Joint NTU-UBC Research Centre of Excellence in Active Living for the Elderly (LILY). The system integrates motion sensors with Active Passive Trainer (APT) cycling equipment. A virtual fox avatar, displayed on a TV, moves based on pedal speed in a hunting game, guided by vocal cues. Data collection includes interviews and scale assessments.

Study Overview

This mixed-method exploratory study will be conducted at an LTC home in Vancouver, British Columbia, involving diverse participants:
  • Residents: 12–20 older adults who routinely engage in traditional rehabilitation exercises.
  • Family Members: 12–20 relatives of residents.
  • Staff: 20 part-time or full-time healthcare professionals (e.g., nurses, care aides, allied health staff).
  • Leadership Team: 5 facility managers or recreation leaders.

    • Intervention: Residents and their family members will participate in gamified rehabilitation exercises (5–10 minutes, twice a week for three weeks) instead of their usual non-gamified routines. The study will assess their experiences.

    Focus Groups:
  • Staff will join discussions before and after the intervention
  • Leadership team will participate in a post-intervention focus group. Both groups will share insights on the impact of gamified rehabilitation on residents and the LTC environment.

    • Research Design

  • Phase 1: Training frontline staff to integrate gamification seamlessly into existing rehabilitation exercises, completing an ethics applications, and recruiting team members.

  • Phase 2: Implementation of gamified rehabilitation exercises among recruited participants, leveraging the expertise of the Joint NTU-UBC Research Center of Excellence in Active Living for the Elderly (LILY), creating engaging and entertaining gamified exercises.

  • Phase 3: Assessing the feasibility of gamified rehabilitation exercises for residents in long-term care as a qualitative study through interviews and focus group discussions to gather insights and feedback.


    • Principal Investigator: Dr. Lillian Hung

    Project Manager: Yong (Peter) Zhao. Please contact Yong (Peter) Zhao at drzhao78@mail.ubc.ca if you have any questions/interest.

    Team Members: Lily (Haopu) Ren; Jamie Lam

    The Team

    Click to watch the Video

    Accomplishments

    Our oral presentations on Feasibility and Acceptability of Gamified Cycling Exercise for Residents in a Long-term Care Homes at PATHS to a Cure 2025!

    Our oral presentations on Feasibility and Acceptability of Gamified Cycling Exercise for Residents in a Long-term Care Homes at at Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging’s first ever Research Day!!

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