Percussion Hero: A Chest Physical Therapy Game for People with Cystic Fibrosis and their Caregivers

Abstract

Chest physical therapy—including chest percussion, vibration, and postural drainage—is an important part of cystic fibrosis (CF) treatment. Chest percussion and vibration are exercises that require coordinated effort between patient and caregiver, during which the caregiver performs manual, rhythmic blows to the patient's chest and back. When practiced regularly alongside postural drainage techniques, percussion therapy mobilizes and removes fluid buildup in the lungs, reducing inflammation and risks of infection that could lead to hospitalization. Despite the importance of chest physical therapy for those with CF, adherence is often low. Low adherence to at-home therapies is common to the treatment of many diseases, yet one distinct challenge of chest physical therapy is the caregiver intervention—a role often assumed by a family member or loved one. The caregiver role is challenging for chest therapy because it is active, focused, and strenuous. While research has proposed many solutions for increasing patient engagement during similar airway clearance exercises, the critical role of the caregiver has often been overlooked. In this paper, we present Percussion Hero, a cooperative, rhythm-based game designed to improve chest physical therapy adherence by actively targeting both patients and caregivers during therapeutic exercises.