Tuesday 28 February 2012

Home-based balance training programme using Wii Fit with balance board for Parkinsons’s disease: A pilot study

Journal of Rehabilation Medicine 2012 Feb;44(2):144-50.

Esculier JF, Vaudrin J, Bériault P, Gagnon K, Tremblay LE.
Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Rehabilitation, University of Ottawa, Québec, Canada.

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Abstract
Objectives: To evaluate the effects of a home-based balance training programme using visual feedback (Nintendo Wii Fit game with balance board) on balance and functional abilities in subjects with Parkinson’s disease, and to compare the effects with a group of paired healthy subjects.

Subjects: Ten subjects with moderate Parkinson’s disease and 8 healthy elderly subjects.

Methods: Subjects participated in a 6-week home-based balance training programme using Nintendo Wii Fit and balance board. Baseline measures were taken before training for the Sit-to-Stand test (STST), Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG), Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA), 10-m walk test, Community Balance and Mobility assessment (CBM), Activities-specific Balance and Confidence scale (ABC), unipodal stance duration, and a force platform. All measurements were taken again after 3 and 6 weeks of training.

Results: The Parkinson’s disease group significantly improved their results in TUG, STST, unipodal stance, 10-m walk test, CBM, POMA and force platform at the end of the 6-week training programme. The healthy subjects group significantly improved in TUG, STST, unipodal stance and CBM.

Conclusion: This pilot study suggests that a home-based balance programme using Wii Fit with balance board could improve static and dynamic balance, mobility and functional abilities of people affected by Parkinson’s disease.

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