Background Recently, movement-based videogames (exergames) have gained popularity in improving the rehabilitation process after surgery. During exergaming, participants are physically challenged as the game component stimulates adherence to the training program. There is no literature on the effect of exergame training interventions in patients who received arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis. Objective This pilot study assessed the potency of an existing exergaming tool for the rehabilitation program of patients who received arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis. Methods A cross-sectional pilot study was performed, in which patients who received arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis (n=8) were subjected to an exergaming protocol. Gait analysis was performed with a treadmill system. A healthy age-matched control group (n=10) was used as the control group. Results The patient group was capable of performing exergaming exercises and they showed no floor or ceiling effect. Only in case of the overall stability, the patient group performed significantly less better than the control group ( P =.03). Gait analysis showed equal step length with increased external rotation of the affected limb. Conclusions Exergaming seems to be a valuable tool for measuring the ability of patients who received AAA to perform activities of daily living and it has the potential to individualize rehabilitation programs. When exergaming is systematically integrated with patient-reported outcome measures and activity tracking, it has the potential to improve the quality of care.

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Objectives: Recently, movement-based video games (exergames) have gained popularity to improve the rehabilitation process after surgery. During exergaming, participants are physically challenged while introducing a game component to stimulate adherence to the training program. There is no literature on the effect of exergame training interventions in patients with an arthroscopic ankle arthrodesis (AAA). This pilot study assessed the potency of an existing exergaming tool for the rehab programme of AAA patients Methods: A cross-sectional pilot study (N=24) was performed, in which patients with an AAA were subjected to an exergaming protocol. Gait analysis was performed with treadmill system. A healthy age matched control (AMC) group was used as a control group. The European Foot and Ankle score (EFAS) was obtained. Results: The AAA group were capable to perform the exergaming exercises and showed no floor or ceiling effect. Only for the overall stability the AAA performed significantly less compared to the AMC group. Gait analysis showed equal step length with increased external rotation of the affected limb. The median EFAS for the AAA was 16.1 (11-20). The AAA group had a median FJS of 70.8 (39.6 - 100) meaning they were not aware of their ankle. Conclusions: Exergaming seems like a valuable tool to measure AAA patients and has the potential to individualize rehabilitation programs. When it is systematically integrated with PROMS measurement and activity tracking it has the potential to improve quality of care Trial registration: Clinical Researches Ethics Committee protocol number 2016/43