Commercial Video Game Integration Through Gamepad Emulation Using a Wrist Rehabilitation Robot
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17979/ja-cea.2026.47.13687Keywords:
Assistive techonlogy and rehabilitation engineering, Human and Robot Mechatronics, Biomedical Mechatronics, Motion Control Systems, Embedded computer control systems and applications, Human-centered automation and design, Rehabilitation engineering and healthcare deliveryAbstract
Low adherence to motor rehabilitation programs remains a major limitation in long-term therapy processes. In this context, serious games have demonstrated their ability to improve user motivation, although their development involves high costs and
limited scalability. As an alternative, commercial video games provide accessible and highly engaging environments, but most existing solutions rely on motion-capture systems without mechanical assistance capabilities. In this work, a rehabilitation approach
based on the emulation of a gamepad using the M3Rob wrist rehabilitation robot is proposed. User wrist movements are transformed into commands compatible with commercial video games, while an admittance control framework provides mechanically
transparent behavior and facilitates physical human-robot interaction. A preliminary experimental validation with healthy participants using DOOM and SuperTuxKart demonstrates the technical feasibility, showing stable interaction,
intuitive movements, and high levels of perceived motivation. The results suggest that this approach could facilitate the integration of robotic rehabilitation platforms with commercial video games, reducing development costs and expanding the
therapeutic possibilities.
References
Alonso-Linaje, G., Cisnal, A., Fraile, J. C., Turiel, J. P., 2024. Design and analysis of the m3rob: A robotic platform for wrist and hand rehabilitation. IEEE Access 12, 30472–30481. DOI: 10.1109/ACCESS.2024.3369908
Ambros-Antemate, J. F., Beristain-Colorado, M. D. P., Vargas-Treviño, M., Gutiérrez-Gutiérrez, J., Hernández-Cruz, P. A., Gallegos-Velasco, I. B., Moreno-Rodríguez, A., Nov 2021. Software engineering frameworks used for serious games development in physical rehabilitation: Systematic review. JMIR Serious Games 9 (4), e25831. DOI: 10.2196/25831
Ambros-Antemate, J. F., Beristain-Colorado, M. d. P., Vargas-Treviño, M., Gutiérrez-Gutiérrez, J., Hernández-Cruz, P. A., Gallegos-Velasco, I. B., Moreno-Rodríguez, A., Nov 2023. Improving adherence to physical therapy in the development of serious games: Conceptual framework design study. JMIR Form Res 7, e39838. DOI: 10.2196/39838
Amorim, P., Santos, B., Dias, P., Silva, S., Martins, H., 2020. Serious games for stroke telerehabilitation of upper limb - a review for future research. Int J Telerehabil 12 (2), 65–76. DOI: 10.5195/ijt.2020.6326
Bax, J. J., Delgado, V., Bapat, V., Baumgartner, H., Collet, J. P., Erbel, R., Hamm, C., Kappetein, A. P., Leipsic, J., Leon, M. B., MacCarthy, P., Piazza, N., Pibarot, P., Roberts, W. C., Rod´es-Cabau, J., Serruys, P. W., Thomas, M., Vahanian, A.,Webb, J., Zamorano, J. L.,Windecker, S., 10 2014. Open issues in transcatheter aortic valve implantation. part 1: Patient selection and treatment strategy for transcatheter aortic valve implantation. DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehu256
Bonnechère, B., Jansen, B., Omelina, L., Jan, S. V. S., 2016. The use of comercial video games in rehabilitation: A systematic review. DOI: 10.1097/MRR.0000000000000190
Fieldhouse, R., Mar. 2026. How the classic computer game doom became a tool for science. Nature 651 (8107), 866. DOI: 10.1038/d41586-026-00813-4
Parry, I. S., Bagley, A., Kawada, J., Sen, S., Greenhalgh, D. G., Palmieri, T. L., 2012. Commercially available interactive video games in burn rehabilitation: therapeutic potential. Burns 38 (4), 493–500. DOI: 10.1016/j.burns.2012.02.010
Patarinski, S. P., Botev, R. G., 1993. Robot force control: A review. Mechatronics 3 (4), 377–398. DOI: 10.1016/0957-4158(93)90012-Q
Pietrzak, E., Cotea, C., Pullman, S., 1 2014. Using commercial video games for upper limb stroke rehabilitation: Is this the way of the future? Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation 21, 152–162. DOI: 10.1310/tsr2102-152
Unibaso-Markaida, I., Iraurgi, I., 2022. Commercial videogames in stroke rehabilitation: systematic review and meta-analysis. DOI: 10.1080/10749357.2021.1943798
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Tomás de la Cal Esteban, Ana Cisnal, Javier Pérez-Turiel, Juan Carlos Fraile
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
