Active video gameplay, deemed enjoyable, safe, easy to operate, and immersive, appears promising as a tool for physical health improvement among a variety of rehabilitation and illness populations.

Based on clinical studies, here is a quick check where these can be applied.

Burns patients

How it helps: Studies suggest that games can be used as entertaining and distracting experience during the pain of burn treatment, increasing patients' tolerance and decreasing pain and anxiety in adolescents and young adults.

Cerebral palsy patients

How it helps: clinical studies support the use of active video gaming in cerebral palsy patients to enhance fine and gross motor function, including improvements in daily activities.Several physiological benefits associated with daily activities can be seen in children with cerebral palsy.

Down's syndrome patients

How it helps: In individuals with Down's syndrome, improvements have been observed in upper limb coordination and stability.In patients with mild cognitive impairment, video games may be used to improve cognitive functions along with motor skills enhancement.They are also known to positively impact sensorimotor function.

Hospitalized patients 

How it helps: Active video game play is believed to be particularly effective in a hospital setting by providing patients an opportunity to overcome boredom, to become physically and mentally active, and to be competitive. Use of video game play in hospitalized elderly patients has been reported to bring about high compliance and satisfaction.

Parkinson's disease patients

 How it helps: Active video game playing has shown to improve the physical ability, mobility, and balance of the patients with Parkinson's disease. It is also known to bring about improvement in activities of daily living.

Spinal injury patients

How it helps: Active video game play can be successfully used in motivating adherence to training in patients with spinal injuries or spina bifida. Also to improve improved strength and endurance

Stroke

How it helps:  For patients recovering from stroke improved on functional ability and upper extremity range of motion, and they also reported higher daily activity and improved activities of daily living.For home based rehabilitation, the game approach can be used to enrich the training experience and establish a higher level of compliance to prescribed exercises, while maintaining a supportive training environment as found in common therapy sessions.Overall, past research suggests videogame-based interventions are effective at improving and increasing a variety of health-related outcomes, including motor functioning, energy expenditure, muscle strength, and recovery times in stroke patients.

The clinicians can modify or adapt the game depending on the illness or injury and the needs of the gameplayer, providing appropriate challenges as the player improves. With the appropriate technical expertise.

Reference: Staiano AE, Flynn R. Therapeutic Uses of Active Videogames: A Systematic Review. Games For Health Journal. 2014;3(6):351-365.