Physical Training Component (the FitForAll exergame platform)

LLM Physical training component (LLM PTC)

A.Billis, Lab of Medical Informatics, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

(AUTH)

Physical activity and older adults

• Older adults, aged 65+ years, lack physical health and more often they suffer from severe mobility problems of the upper and lower body

• Seniors tend to have a sedentary life, which is characterized by a complete lack of any kind of physical exercise among their daily living activities

• Physical activity has to become a part of the daily habits of seniors, as it will certainly have many positive physical and psychological effects on both healthy and chronically ill older adults

Athens, 20 May 2010Athens, 20 May 2010

Effects of physical activity on older adults

• Reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (coronary artery disease), enhances functioning of the cardiorespiratoty system in general

• Prevention of the development of arterial hypertension and improved control of arterial blood pressure

• Maintenance and improvement in muscular strength and endurance, resulting in increase in functional capacity to carry out activities of daily living

• Lower risk of falling and prevention or delaying of chronic illnesses associated with ageing

• Maintenance of cognitive functions and decreases the risk of developing depression and dementia in senior citizens


Physical training

• A systematic exercise program targeted to elderly people should include four types of exercise, which are: Aerobic exercises such as gait, swimming, running and

cycling, which target to the improvement of the cardio respiratory system. They should be executed on a daily basis for at least 30 minutes

Muscle strength exercises are related to weightlifting. These exercises shall be executed 2-3 times a week

Balance targeted exercises are important because they prevent falls. They could be incorporated into a daily program of muscle strengthening

Flexibility exercises (distensions) conserve muscle flexibility and protect from injuries. Distensions should be executed in the beginning and at the end of every training program.Athens, 20 May 2010Athens, 20 May 2010

Guidelines

• In order for a training program to deliver promising results and help seniors maintain their fitness and independence attention has to be paid at the design of a personalized training program with special focus on the total time period and frequency a senior exercises

• Shall be applied for at least three times a weekfor a continuous period of 3 months.

• ~ 1 hour • Divided into three parts:

warm-up phase ~ 25 mins the main part phase ~ 30 mins and recovery phase 5 to 10 mins


LLM approach

• During LLM trials a combination of traditional training equipment (e.g. treadmills and ergometer bikes) and exergaming facilities (Wii peripherals) will be used in order to carry out the physical training program

• Main intention is to integrate into LLM system different kinds of training platforms, providing users the flexibility to choose among them the most suitable to their needs and their socio-economical status



FitForAll

• FitForAll is a game platform that helps elderly people to exercise and maintain their physical status and well being through an innovative, low-cost ICT platform, such as Wii peripherals

• Seniors can interact with the game content in a physical way

• Body movements affect the fame scenario• Seniors entertain themselves while they are

exercising


FitForAll in practice


FitForAll interaction

• Devices used as controls are Nintendo Wii Balance Board and Remote©.

• Wii Balance Board is comprised by four pressure sensors, which calculate the center of pressure (COP) or center of mass of a person who stands on it

• Wii Remote is comprised by an accelerometer which can detect acceleration values through 3 axes


FitForAll interaction

• Raw data of both peripherals are sent to a PC via Bluetooth protocol

• Input raw data are decoded and translated into game “commands”

• Internal game logic updates the game screen according to the input data, providing the appropriate feedback to the senior


List of games

• Balance games Apple Tree Arkanoid Fishing Golf Ski jump

• Aerobic endurance games Hiking

• Strength games Biceps, Quadriceps


Apple Tree

Objective: seniors have to move their body in order to move a basket and collect as many apples as possible. Fruits appear to the game screen at random positions at several time intervals.

Trains dynamic balance There is a display with

the total number of fruits already gathered by the senior


Arkanoid

Objective: seniors have to move the paddle horizontally in order to hit the ball and direct it towards the bricks

Trains dynamic balance when seniors are performing movements sideways


Fishing

Objective: move the boat by shifting center of mass either on the front or the back and catching fish that appear on the screen with random speed

Fishing game trains seniors to dynamically change their balance while moving alternately forwards and backwards


Golf

Objective: Senior has to move his or her body in order to move the ball through barriers into the right direction so to score the ball into the hole

Seniors practice their agility and dynamic balance


Ski jump

Objective: Ski Jump prompts seniors to move their centre of mass to an indicative position of the rectangle area drawn on the left side of the game screen and remain still as long as possible, letting the game character perform a jump

Ski Jump focuses on the training of user's static balance


Hiking

Hiking is an aerobic endurance task, which focuses on the running activity of the senior

Objective: senior runs with Wii Remote placed on his/her back attached to a belt


Biceps

Objectives: senior places Wiimote along his/her arm and performs several lift replications with dumbbells

Trains strength of the upper body


Quadriceps

• Objectives: senior places one foot on the Wii Balance Board and leans his/her body forward. Then he returns back to the initial position. Senior performs several repetitions

• Trains strength of the lower body


Training sessions

• FitForAll is a modular and flexible training platform which enables therapists to build personalized training programs according to seniors’ special needs

• Therapists can add training programs and adjusting the difficulty level by choosing games from the available ones and by customizing them

• Seniors are able to choose whether they follow the training schedule that is designed by the therapist, or they can just perform any other game or predefined training program they like



Thank you for your attention!

Physical Training Component (the FitForAll exergame platform)

Technology