Recovering from a stroke can be an overwhelming journey, involving physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges. Increasingly, healthcare professionals are turning to an unexpected but powerful tool to support stroke survivors: games. From digital video games to tabletop role-playing games, gaming offers a range of benefits that aid recovery and improve quality of life.
Firstly, games provide engaging and motivating ways to practice physical rehabilitation. Interactive video games that use motion sensors or virtual reality encourage stroke survivors to perform repetitive movements crucial for regaining strength and coordination. This kind of “gamified” therapy often feels less like exercise and more like play, which helps maintain motivation and consistency over time.
Cognitively, games help rebuild skills such as attention, memory, problem-solving, and executive function. Many stroke survivors experience difficulties with these cognitive abilities, and playing games that require strategy, planning, or quick thinking offers stimulating mental exercise. Role-playing games (RPGs), for example, encourage players to create characters, solve puzzles, and collaborate with others, all of which foster brain plasticity—the brain’s ability to reorganize and form new connections.
Social connection is another vital benefit. Stroke survivors often face isolation due to mobility or communication challenges. Multiplayer games and gaming groups provide a supportive community where survivors can interact, share experiences, and build friendships. This social engagement can reduce feelings of loneliness and depression, common after stroke.
Recreation Therapist Michael Thorburn has extensive experience working with stroke survivors across the lifespan in private practice, as well as two years volunteering in the Acquired Brain Injury Ward at the Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre. During his time there, his team was nominated for a Consumer Experience Award from Austin Health, reflecting their commitment to patient-centered care.
In summary, games offer stroke survivors a multi-dimensional approach to recovery: physical rehab, cognitive stimulation, social interaction, and emotional support. Incorporating games into therapy can transform rehabilitation into an enjoyable, empowering, and effective experience.