Research on an improved balance with the HEROES Video Game

To walk steadily and avoid falling, good balance is very important, especially for people who have had a stroke.

That one step in the recovery process can make all the difference. Unfortunately, there are still not many options for training your balance at home. That's why the HEROES game was designed, and now this video game can be tested!

What are we working on?

A fall can have serious consequences, and certain groups are at higher risk of falling. For these people, balance training is essential. Sometimes an extra step is needed to prevent a fall. The HEROES game trains taking such steps. With this game, you can practice at home. In the video game, a captain stands on a raft. The captain suddenly loses balance and takes a step to avoid falling. The player must replicate the step as accurately as possible. The video game has been developed but still needs to be tested for user-friendliness. For this study, we are looking for people who have had a stroke and would like to help us test the game.

What do we ask of you? 

For the study, you will visit the University of Twente in Enschede once. During this visit, you will play the video game and then answer a few questions. You will play the game in the 'eHealth House,' a special space at the university that simulates a home environment. The entire study lasts about two hours, with 30 minutes dedicated to playing the game. A physical therapist will be present during the game to offer assistance if needed. This ensures that you can play the game safely, so the risk of participating in this study is very low. By participating, you help improve the game, which will, in turn, help others with balance training and hopefully lead to fewer fall-related accidents

Who can participate and when? 

We will begin the study once we have found 10 participants, and we hope to complete the research in 2024.

You can participate in this study if:

• You had a stroke more than 6 months ago.
• You have some difficulty walking, but it’s important that you can stand without assistance for 2-3 minutes. Unfortunately, you cannot participate if your balance issues are due to something other than the stroke.
• You are between 18 and 75 years old.

After signing up, you will receive a phone call within 5 working days. In this first call, you will receive more information about the study and have the opportunity to ask questions. We will also determine whether you can participate in the study. If you are still interested after the phone call, you will receive an information packet by email or post. You can review it at your own pace. A second phone call will follow, during which you can ask further questions. If you remain interested, we will schedule your participation in the study.

Extra information

• As a thank you for participating, you will receive a €25 gift card. 
• If you incur any travel costs, they will be reimbursed.

Meet the researchers 

Sign up

Thank you for your interest in signing up for the HEROES video game project for improved balance. Please fill in your details below, and the researcher will contact you.

• Participation in scientific research is always voluntary. When you sign up for a study, you will always receive an automatic confirmation email. This email will inform you when to expect further communication from the researcher.
• The email will also include a link to the English-language questionnaire. The Dutch or German versions will be sent later.
• When starting the questionnaire, you will be asked for your consent to participate by filling out a 'Consent Form.' 
• An ethical committee has reviewed this research and given a positive recommendation. This means that the research is conducted with scientific rigor and in accordance with participant rights.
• Your contact details will only be used as you wish. We will only share your information with the researcher of the study you are participating in. If you have indicated that you want to stay updated on new studies, you will receive a message no more than once a month. If this changes, we will contact you first. Read here for detailed information on how we handle personal data.