eJamar: A Novel Exergame Controller for Upper Limb Motor Rehabilitation

This work presents the design of a new game controller device and the development of two exergames (Peter Jumper and Andromeda) for upper limb rehabilitation. The eJamar controller is a novel electromechanical device designed to measure wrist and hand movements, such as pronation/supination, flexion/extension, and ulnar/radial deviation, enabling users to perform control actions in the exergames. One of eJamar’s most significant features is its ability to measure hand grip strength, a function not available in commercial gaming controllers. The exergame Peter Jumper involves a character jumping over obstacles in various environments, promoting hand grip exercises. The exergame Andromeda involves shooting enemy ships, promoting coordination between hand movements and grip strength, making it suitable for different rehabilitation techniques. A testing protocol was applied with eight healthy participants (5F and 3M), who completed a survey evaluating gameplay, usability, and satisfaction of the system. The results demonstrated that the developed exergames are intuitive and easy to play, with participants reporting that a therapist’s presence is not required for gameplay. Hence, it suggests that the developed system can improve the rehabilitation process, promoting wrist–arm movements and grasping actions.