Exergames, a fusion of digital gaming and physical activity, have gained significant traction as a rehabilitation tool in the healthcare sector. This research focused on evaluating the impact of exergame-based rehabilitation on the life quality of cancer patients who have had abdominal surgery. The use of technology in rehabilitation is progressively growing, and emerging technologies, particularly exergames, encourage patients to engage even more in their daily treatment [14, 18]. Exergaming combines exercise with gaming, where patients utilize physical movements to interact with the game, and it has been utilized in cancer patients [9, 14]. Despite the increasing popularity of these resources, no published reports discuss the efficacy of exergames on the quality of life of patients after abdominal oncologic surgery.

In the specific case of cancer patients, they present symptoms related to the disease, such as decreased functionality, fatigue, reduced strength, pain, insomnia, and mood disturbances, with significant implications for their quality of life and overall well-being [7]. Studies suggest that rehabilitation programs in cancer postoperative care lead to clinically relevant improvements, particularly in physical functions and various dimensions of quality of life, as well as in overall health status after rehabilitation or shortly after the treatment [18, 19]. Rehabilitation is crucial after cancer surgery, and the use of exergames can be an important resource for postoperative recovery [14].

Research indicates that exergames positively affect motivation for active participation in rehabilitation and impaired functions [6, 9]. Exergames have demonstrated several advantages in rehabilitation, including lowering the pain threshold and providing psychological and social interaction benefits for patients [11, 12, 14]. These advantages stem from the unique features of exergames that combine physical activity with gaming elements, making them motivating for patients [14]. They also offer other benefits, such as the ability to customize difficulty levels, provide feedback, and monitor activity [20].

Our results suggest that the use of an exergame may contribute to an improvement in average quality of life in the intervention group, compared to standard care. Quality of life measures have become a vital and often required part of health outcomes appraisal [21,22,23].

This impact is mainly due to its effect on the physical domain. As these authors have pointed out, exergaming proves to be a promising tool for improving the physical health of cancer patients [6, 7, 12, 21, 24, 25]. Although conducted in a different population, these authors have demonstrated that exergames, when used as a rehabilitation method, can offer an interactive alternative intervention with positive outcomes for quality of life [22]. The demand for cancer rehabilitation following surgery is projected to rise significantly due to the aging population and an increasing number of cancer survivors. These patients experience a wide range of physical limitations and symptoms that detrimentally impact their health and quality of life [22, 26]. The results indicate that the use of exergames is beneficial, improving QoL in these patients, which is in line with studies that analyze quality of life and exercise in cancer patients [25, 27]. One possible explanation is that exercise helps alleviate the stress of cancer symptoms, a critical factor in QoL [27]. Exercise releases dopamine, improving mood and managing negative emotions, as well as strengthening the immune system, improving overall physical fitness [27].

Despite the numerous advantages of immediate postoperative rehabilitation, which directly influences quality of life, some authors have reported low adherence rates among this patient group [26]. A primary challenge in physical rehabilitation treatments lies in maintaining patient motivation, as these treatments involve slow, repetitive, and often uncomfortable movements [28, 29, 30]. Exergames have shown promising results in enhancing patient motivation to engage in rehabilitation therapies [14, 28]. It is essential to note that while exergames can be beneficial in abdominal surgery rehabilitation, they should be supervised and prescribed by healthcare professionals to complement other methods. Individual patient needs and conditions should always be considered when integrating exergames into the rehabilitation program.

Although the results of this study demonstrate the potential applicability of exergames in an emerging area with limited evidence of their use, such as major abdominal surgery rehabilitation, further studies, including more clinical trials, should be conducted. It would also be important to determine the best way to incorporate exergames into rehabilitation programs, the ideal protocol for duration, and the frequency of execution for the patient [6].

Despite the strengths of the study, some limitations should be considered for the generalization of the results. First, the limited number of participants. Additionally, there was variability in some of the pathologies, mainly intestinal or gastric. Moreover, the fact that the Nintendo Wii® platform was used and not an exergame specifically designed for this purpose. However, it is important to recognize that another limitation of this study is the lack of previous research in this area that specifically looks at the use of exergames in people with cancer. And those that exist are aimed at the rehabilitation of people with breast cancer [14, 25]. Although some authors reference in review studies that it has not yet been possible to reach a conclusion on the efficacy of a single exergame or specific console, but rather exergaming as a whole [7, 14].