USM Students Strengthen National Presence with Innovation in Stroke Rehabilitation

Date: 5th September 2024
Location: Edelmann's Office, Malaysia

The NEAR Exergame team from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has proudly claimed the runner-up position at the prestigious National James Dyson Award 2024. This remarkable achievement comes under the team comprising Alexander Tan Wai Teng (29), Yeo Ying Heng (29), Tan Wei Jim (28), and Wong Yong Jie (23). They are supervised under Professor Dr. Zaidi Mohd Ripin, Dr. Muhammad Fauzinizam Razali and Dr. Mohamad Ikhwan Zaini Bin Ridzwan.

The project, NEAR Exergame, is an advanced neurorehabilitation tool that combines interactive gaming with therapeutic exercises, tailored specifically for stroke patients. The game provides real-time feedback and offers customizable therapy levels to suit individual patient needs, making the recovery process more engaging and effective. The system’s potential lies in its ability to motivate patients while enhancing their physical rehabilitation through precise movement tracking.

The research team developed the concept from a personal understanding of the challenges faced by stroke patients, with one member having witnessed firsthand the limitations of traditional rehabilitation methods. After years of dedicated work, the team successfully design a functional prototype that synchronizes physical movements with a digital avatar in gaming environments, allowing for accurate real-time feedback. This invention has garnered attention for its ability to make therapy both engaging.

During the award ceremony, the NEAR Exergame project was lauded for its innovative approach, with hopes of expanding its application to other medical conditions such as spinal cord injuries and scoliosis. Recently featured on RTM TV1 Malaysia, the project has received national recognition and continues to inspire confidence that it will make a lasting impact in the field of rehabilitation engineering.

Looking ahead, the team plans to enhance NEAR Exergame by incorporating telerehabilitation capabilities, enabling patients to perform therapy remotely from their homes. With such advancements, the project holds the potential to revolutionize stroke rehabilitation in Malaysia and beyond, offering accessible, affordable, and personalized care for a wider range of patients.

The James Dyson Award serves as a prestigious platform for recognizing groundbreaking innovations in engineering and design, and the NEAR Exergame team has truly embodied the spirit of this award. Their success not only highlights the talents of the young researchers but also underscores USM's commitment to advancing research and technological development in healthcare.

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