It Depends: Re_Authoring Play Through Clinical Reasoning in Wearable AR Rehab Games

TL;DR

This study explores how physical therapists adapt wearable AR rehab games through clinical reasoning, proposing a framework and design principles to enhance personalized, situated play that integrates into clinical workflows.

Contribution

It introduces a clinical reasoning-based framework and design principles for re_authoring AR rehab games, bridging lab research and clinical practice.

Findings

Therapists re_authorize AR games through co_authored, situated, and dual play.

Re_authoring involves reshaping movements, adapting to contexts, and supporting recovery and psychological needs.

The study offers guidelines for designing personalized AR rehab experiences aligned with clinical workflows.

Abstract

Augmented reality games hold promise for rehabilitation, yet most remain confined to laboratory studies with limited clinical uptake. Recent advances in spatial computing, especially lightweight, glasses_form_factor AR, create a timely opportunity to embed rehabilitative play into clinical practice and daily contexts. To investigate this potential, we systematically reviewed 132 applications and conducted playtesting with 14 licensed physical therapists. Our analysis revealed three ways therapists re_authored AR games: co_authored play (reshaping movements, progressions, and difficulty), situated play (adapting across specialties, conditions, and contexts), and dual play (mediating both physical recovery and psychological support). We reframe therapists' frequent phrase_It depends_as a generative design principle. This study contributes a clinical reasoning_based framework and design principles and guidelines for creating personalized, situated forms of play that align with therapists' everyday workflows and inform future lab_to_clinic translation.