Kung-Fu Kitchen

Spasticity is a motor disorder defined by involuntary muscle contractions, resulting in uncoordinated gait, stiff body posture and shortening of range of limb movement. The first line treatment of spasticity is physical and occupational therapy, involving physical exercises that focus on stretching and strengthening of muscles. During the Theraplay project, we developed Kung-Fu Kitchen, a game that builds upon these physical exercises and aims to remedy the negative consequences of spasticity. In order to design Kung-Fu Kitchen, we relied on a participatory design method, involving physical and occupational therapists from two special education schools, one clinic for Multiple Sclerosis patients, and one center for people with mental and physical impairments. Over a period of two years, we co-designed and developed game concepts and prototypes that were subsequently improved upon through an iterative development process and user tests (Vanden Abeele et al., 2012).