EXercising with Computers in Later Life (EXCELL) - pilot and feasibility study of the acceptability of the Nintendo WiiFit in community.

BMC Res Notes. 2010 Sep 13;3(1):238.

Williams MA, Soiza RL, Jenkinson AM, Stewart A.

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ABSTRACT:


BACKGROUND: Falls management programmes have been instituted to attempt to reduce falls. This pilot study was undertaken to determine whether the Nintendo(R)WiiFit was a feasible and acceptable intervention in community-dwelling older fallers.

FINDINGS: Community-dwelling fallers over 70 years were recruited and attended for computer-based exercises (n=15) or standard care (n=6). Balance and fear of falling were assessed at weeks 0, 4 and 12. Participants were interviewed on completion of the study to determine whether the intervention was acceptable. Eighty percent of participants attended 75% or more of the exercise sessions. An improvement in Berg Score was seen at four weeks (p = 0.02) and in Wii Age at 12 weeks (p = 0.03) in the intervention group. There was no improvement in balance scores in the standard care group.

CONCLUSION: WiiFit exercise is acceptable in self-referred older people with a history of falls. The WiiFit has the potential to improve balance but further work is required. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov - NCT01082042.

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