Exergame Development for Cancer Prevention and Intervention
Blessing Ahabue , Paula Pullen , Afebuameh Ogbesor , William Seffens , and James W. Lillard, Jr. .
1
Microbiology, Immunology, Biochemistry and Physiology Department, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA .
Abstract
Exergaming or fitness game is a term used for video
games that use technology that tracks body movement
and has been credited with upending the stereotype of
gaming as a sedentary activity. Living a physically
active lifestyle is important to reduce the risk of a
variety of cancers, as well as heart disease and
diabetes. Evidence indicates that physical activity may
reduce risk of cancers of breast, colon, and
endometrium, as well as advanced prostate cancer.1,2,3
Physical activity also indirectly reduces risk of
developing many types of obesity-related cancers
because of its role in maintaining healthy weight. Being
active is thought to reduce cancer risk largely by
improving energy metabolism and reducing circulating
concentrations of estrogen, insulin, and insulin-like
growth factors.4 Physical activity also improves quality
of life for cancer patients and is associated with
reduction in risk of cancer recurrences and improved
overall mortality in multiple cancer survivor groups,
including breast, colorectal, prostate, and ovarian
cancer.5,6,7,8. Considering use of smartphone and
mobile apps, Exergaming or fitness games may be an
important solution to increasing participation and
engagement of minority and underserved communities.
Unlike the current Latin-music based Zumba exergame
on XBOX, Afrosa is Africa-based, which we
hypothesize to be better received by African American
(AA) target group. Design offers modified moves and
pacing for a lower-impact, simple-to-learn exercises
that keeps the energy of traditional African beats. It is
targeted to AA women to address disparities with
cancer incidence and outcomes.
Purpose
To motivate African Americans to take proactive
approach for cancer prevention. We are assessing
smart and connected technologies to deliver African-
based therapeutic intervention for clinic or home
settings and lifestyle change. For this aim we used the
3D room sensor built into the Microsoft Kinect for
qualitative analysis of capturing and scoring African
moves and postures. This low cost hardware/software
gaming platform could be used to supplement and
enhance African-based fitness training in therapeutic
settings as a downloadable Exergame for PC or Xbox.
1 2
2
Georgia South Western State University, Americus, GA.
Methods
We examined awareness of breast cancer disparities in
2 focus groups of AA women in Atlanta, and
perceptions of causes of breast cancer disparity.
Participants completed a survey about their views of
breast cancer prior to the group discussion.
Using a 3D room sensor built into the Microsoft Kinect, positions do not involve inversion of the head.
we analyzed qualitative and quantitative measures of
Afrosa postures and dance motion. Few studies have dance should perform well as an Exergame.
documented weight loss among AA women, and no
combined exercise lifestyle modification awareness
education/low impact African music/dance and culture orientations, and with both versions 1 and 2 of
intervention has been conducted. Using the Kinect
SDK version 1.8 and a version of KinectExplorer-D2D
software, we captured skeleton image streams
composed of 20; X, Y and Z coordinates at 12 frames body position, and respiration rate/ volume, or
per second (Figure 1).
1 1
Results
We captured whole body positions of a certified
The skeleton-generating algorithm embedded
fitness instructor demonstrating in front of a
Kinect sensor attached to a PC. In previous
studies3,4, we found that inverted yoga positions
were poorly captured due to the Kinect internal
algorithms for skeleton detection. The Afrosa
as an Exergame with multiple players
Therefore software development involving Afrosa
Almost all Afrosa movements were captured
unambiguously for both frontal and perpendicular
the Kinect. Assessment of positional accuracy to
milestones or markers in a therapeutic Exergame
would be possible using the skeleton output for
heart beat could be developed for incorporation.
Prior unpublished work has shown that dancers
and non-dancers alike immediately and easily
master Afrosa because there is no complicated
moves to master, and the individuals do not need
to know how to dance to succeed at Afrosa
Breast cancer disparities focus groups
considered these survey questions: "In your
opinion: Who is more likely to die from breast
cancer? Can exercise help prevent cancer? Do
you believe that Physical activity can improve the
quality of life of cancer patients? Do you believe
that new African music and dance exercise
routine will motivate you to move?.
More that 60% of the participants believed all
women have the same chance of dying from
breast cancer, and the majority do not associate
physical activity as improving the quality of life of
cancer patients. Almost all the participants like
the new African cultural beats and rhythm
routines.
1
Conclusion
in both versions of Kinect is appropriate for
Afrosa poses. We propose to utilize the Kinect
in self-guided Afrosa therapy in trials for AA
efficacy. This study evaluated African dance
possible. This app is designed by peers of
targeted populations at risk for cancer.
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Acknowledgements/Disclosures
Research supported in part by federal NIH
grants 8G12MD007602 and 8U54MD007588
from NIH/NIMHD to MSM.