Wii-Fit For Improving Activity, Gait And Balance In Alzheimer's Dementia

Alzheimer's Dementia (AD) contributes to poor balance, impaired gait and functional status, thereby, increasing the risk of falls. AD is an independent risk factor for hip fractures. Those with balance problems and gait impairments are at higher risk for long term placement and death related to falls. Exercise interventions improve gait and balance in the elderly. In participants with existing AD, physical activity has shown to prevent further cognitive decline and improve quality of life and prevent falls. However, it is difficult to engage patients with AD in long term exercise programs. The expense of physical therapy limits its easy accessibility. Use of everyday technology might bridge this gap by providing high level of engagement via the use of multimedia while providing a cost-effective alternative. Wii Fit is one such multimedia platform.

Wii fit is a Nintendo gaming console used for aerobics, strength training and balance activities. This device includes a balance board that senses weight and shifts in movement and balance. Virtual trainers talk the user through the activity while tracking the user's progress. The investigators propose an 8-week prospective randomized study with the treatment group receiving the exercise program delivered by Wii-Fit system and the comparison arm receiving a walking exercise program in a community dwelling setting. Subjects in each arm will participate for 30 minutes daily five days a week.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Falls; Balance Impairment; Gait Impairment; Alzheimer's Dementia
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Wii-Fit intervention; Other: Walking exercise program

Detailed Description

Alzheimer's Dementia (AD) contributes to poor balance, impaired gait and functional status, thereby, increasing the risk of falls. AD is an independent risk factor for hip fractures. Those with balance problems and gait impairments are at higher risk for long term placement and death related to falls. Gait impairments in those with dementia include shortened step length, increased double support time, step to step variability, and decreased gait speed. These gait impairments worsen with dual tasking probably due to common brain areas involved in gait and other cognitive tasks.

Exercise interventions improve gait and balance in the elderly. In subjects with existing AD, physical activity has shown to prevent further cognitive decline and improve quality of life and prevent falls. However, it is difficult to engage patients with AD in long term exercise programs. The expense of physical therapy limits its easy accessibility. Use of everyday technology might bridge this gap by providing high level of engagement via the use of multimedia while providing a cost effective alternative. Wii Fit is one such multimedia platform.

Wii fit is a Nintendo gaming console used for aerobics, strength training and balance activities. This device includes a balance board that senses weight and shifts in movement and balance. Virtual trainers talk the user through the activity while tracking the user's progress.

Although some skilled nursing facilities have started using Wii game system adjunct to routine physical therapy, there have not been any studies. Anecdotal reports note improvement in balance and social benefits using the Wii Fit program. Physical therapists report the ability to customize Wii for each patient. Wii Fit can be successfully used in a cognitively impaired population. A unique feature of this approach is the enjoyment and enthusiasm that many patients derive which is reflected in high levels of engagement.

The invesitgators propose an 8 week prospective randomized study with the treatment group receiving the exercise program delivered by Wii-Fit system and the comparison arm receiving a walking exercise program in a community dwelling setting. Subjects in each arm will participate for 30 minutes daily five days a week.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 22
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Nebraska
    • Omaha, Nebraska, United States, 68198
      • University Of Nebrasaka Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 60 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subjects age ≥ 60
• Diagnosis of mild Dementia of Alzheimer's type (MMSE ≥ 18)
• Community dwelling elders, living at home
• History of fall at least once during the year before the study (without serious injury) or a fear of a future fall
• Presence of caregiver(s)
• Presence of television at home

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of myocardial infarction or TIA or stroke in last 6 months
• Presence of serious psychiatric problems that have impact on memory
• Active cancer or new cancer diagnosis in the last year other than skin cancer
• Medical conditions likely to compromise survival, or ability to participate in the exercise program such as severe congestive heart failure, significant musculoskeletal impairments, recent fracture, joint replacements, or severe chronic pain
• Severe visual or auditory impairment or peripheral neuropathy
• Subjects using wheel chair or assistive device for mobility

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Wii-Fit arm; Half hour daily, five days a week, for 8 weeks	Other: Wii-Fit intervention; Half hour daily, five days a week, for 8 weeks; Other Names: Exercise intervention
Active Comparator: Walking arm; Half hour daily, five days a week, for 8 weeks	Other: Walking exercise program; walking exercise program

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Berg Balance Test	The Berg Balance Scale involves 14 mobility tasks, divided into 3 domains: sitting balance, standing balance, and dynamic balance. In the sitting balance, the task is the evaluation of sitting unsupported. Standing balance consist of standing unsupported, standing with eyes closed, standing with feet together, standing on one foot, turning to look behind, grabbing an object from the floor, reaching forward with outstretched arms, and placing one foot in front of the other. In the last domain, the dynamic balance is evaluated with the individual going from sitting to standing, standing to sitting, transferring, turning 360 degrees, placing one foot on a step. Each task is graded on a 5-point ordinal scale that ranges from 0 to 4 for a maximum score of 56. In general, a score of 0 is given when the individual is unable to perform the task, and a	8 weeks and 16 weeks
Biomechanical assessment of balance	Biomechanical assessment of balance - center of pressure is assessed while standing on a force platform.	8 weeks and 16 weeks
Biomechanical assessment of gait	Biomechanical assessment of gait - reflective markers attached to anatomical landmarks are tracked with motion capture cameras that provide body segment position data as subjects walk on a treadmill. The position data is then used to calculate joint movements, velocities, etc.	8 weeks and 16 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Activities of daily living (ADL)	The Activities of Daily Living are a series of basic activities necessary for independent living at home or in the community. They are performed on a daily basis. There are 5 basic categories.; Personal hygiene - bathing/showering, grooming, nail care, and oral care.; Dressing - being able to make appropriate clothing decisions and physically dress and undress oneself.; Eating - the ability to feed oneself, though not necessarily the capability to prepare food.; Maintaining continence - being able to mentally and physically use a restroom. This includes the ability to get on and off the toilet and cleaning oneself.; Transferring/Mobility- being able to stand from a sitting position, as well as get in and out of bed. The ability to walk independently from one location to another. These are rated on the basis of the level of independence - a) can be performed independently, b) some assistance needed and c) complete assistance needed.	8 weeks and 16 weeks
Instrumental activities of daily living (IADL)	Instrumental Activities of Daily Living are important to being able to live independently, but are not necessarily required on a daily basis. The IADLs include: Basic communication skills - such as using a regular phone, mobile phone, email, or the internet.; Transportation - either by driving oneself, arranging rides, or the ability to use public transportation.; Meal preparation - meal planning, cooking, clean up, storage, and the ability to safely use kitchen equipment and utensils.; Shopping - the ability to make appropriate food and clothing purchase decisions.; Housework - doing laundry, washing dishes, dusting, vacuuming, and maintaining a clean place of residence.; Managing medications.; Managing personal finances.	8 weeks and 16 weeks
Quality Of Life-AD (QOL-AD)	The QOL-AD is a brief, 13-item measure designed specifically to obtain a rating of the patient's Quality of Life from both the patient and the caregiver. The measure consists of 13 items, rated on a four point scale, with 1 being poor and 4 being excellent. Total scores range from 13 to 52. Items include Memory, Mood, Marriage, Physical Health, etc.	8 weeks and 16 weeks
Mini mental state exam (MMSE)	The MMSE is an 11-question measure that tests five areas of cognitive function: orientation, registration, attention and calculation, recall, and language. The maximum score is 30. A score of 23 or lower is indicative of cognitive impairment.	8 weeks and 16 weeks
Falls Efficacy Scale (FES)	On a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being very confident and 10 being not confident at all, this scale measures how confident the subject is in performing a list of activities without falling.	8 weeks and 16 weeks
Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC)	Activities-specific balance confidence (ABC) scale is a structured questionnaire that measures an individual's confidence during ambulatory activities without falling or experiencing a sense of unsteadiness. It's a 16-item questionnaire where patients rate their confidence while doing activities. Scoring from 0-100 (0 is no confidence and 100 is full confidence).	8 weeks and 16 weeks
Exit-25	It is a 25-item screening tool that yields a single score reflecting a broad array of executive functions. Each item's possible score ranges from 0 to a maximum of 2 points; total scores range from 0 to 50, with higher scores indicating greater ECF impairment. The items test number/letter sequencing; word and design fluency; sentence-repetition; thematic perception; memory with distraction; interference inhibition; grasp and snout reflexes; social habits; motor perseveration; finger-nose repetition; echopraxia; complex hand sequences; complex commands; counting and serial-order reversal; and automatic, utilization, and imitation behavior.	8 weeks and 16 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Nebraska
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Kalpana P Padala, MD, MS, University of Nebraska

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 1, 2009
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 6, 2012
• Study Completion (Actual): July 6, 2012

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 23, 2009
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 26, 2009
• First Posted (Estimated): October 27, 2009

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 2, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 28, 2024
• Last Verified: March 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Walking; Falls; Alzheimer's dementia; Wii-Fit
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Neurocognitive Disorders; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Tauopathies; Dementia; Alzheimer Disease
• Other Study ID Numbers: 0361-09-EP

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No