Investigation on Stepping-in-Place Exercise for the Development of Serious Games

Abstract

Stepping-in-place exercise is considered to be easy and safe for the elderly, but improvement is required due to the lack of interactive entertainment. Therefore, integrating stepping-in-place exercise into serious games can be a method for both encouraging the elderly to exercise and enhancing the entertainment for users. It is necessary to understand the stepping motion involved in order to develop a suitable serious game for the elderly. The following main findings are applicable and promote the development of serious games by stepping-in-place. 1） The metabolic rate of stepping-in-place can range from 2.5 to 5.9 METs by adjusting stepping rhythm or foot elevation. 2） The hip flexion angle can be predicted by monitoring the double stance phase of stepping-in-place. 3） Serious games by stepping-in-place are an easy exercise, and the exercise intensity is both efficient and safe for the elderly.