Effects of Game-based Balance Exercise for Older Adults With Fall History

June 22, 2011 updated by: University of Manitoba

Full Title Interactive Computer Game Exercise Regime, Effects on Balance Impairment in Frail Community-Dwelling Older Adults. A Randomized Controlled Trial

Due to the many problems associated with reduced balance and mobility, providing an effective and engaging rehabilitation regimen is essential to progress recovery from impairments and to help prevent further degradation of motor skills. The purpose was to examine effects of physical therapy based on the task-oriented approach delivered in an engaging, interactive video game paradigm. The intervention focused on performing targeted dynamic tasks, which included reactive balance controls and environmental interaction. Thirty community dwelling and ambulatory older adults attending the Day hospital for balance and mobility limitation treatment participated in this study. Participants were randomly assigned to either a control group or experimental group. The control group received the typical rehabilitation program provided at the Day Hospital, consisting of strengthening and balance exercises. The experimental group received a program of dynamic balance exercises coupled to video game play, using a centre of pressure (COP) position signal as the computer mouse. The tasks were performed while standing on a fixed floor surface with progression to a compliant sponge pad. Each group received 16 sessions, scheduled two per week, each lasting 45 minutes. Balance performance measures and spatial-temporal gait variables were obtained pre- and post-treatment Findings demonstrated significant improvements for both groups in balance performance scores post-treatment, and change scores were significantly greater in the experimental compared to control group. No significant treatment effect was observed in either group for the spatial-temporal gait variables. In conclusion dynamic balance exercises on fixed and compliant sponge surfaces were feasibly coupled to interactive game-based exercise. This in turn resulted in a greater improvement in dynamic standing balance control compared to the typical exercise program. However there was no transfer of effect to gait function.

Key Words: Balance, Postural; Rehabilitation; Therapy, computer-assisted; Video Games; Center of Pressure.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

30

Phase

  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • Manitoba
      • Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3L2P4
        • Riverview Health Centre

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

65 years to 85 years (Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • age: 65-85 years
  • Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score > 24
  • English-speaking with the ability to understand the nature of the study and provide informed consent
  • independent in ambulatory functions, with or without an assistive device (cane or walker).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • any medical condition or disability that prevented participation in an exercise program.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Standing Balance
Time Frame: 5 weeks
timed performance and ordinal scales
5 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Gait speed
Time Frame: 5 weeks
5 weeks
Spatial-temporal gait variables
Time Frame: 5 weeks
distance and time
5 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Manitoba

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Tony Szturm, BSc(PT), PhD, University of Manitoba

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

August 1, 2007

Primary Completion (Actual)

August 1, 2008

Study Completion (Actual)

August 1, 2008

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 20, 2011

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 22, 2011

First Posted (Estimate)

June 27, 2011

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

June 27, 2011

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 22, 2011

Last Verified

March 1, 2007

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • H2007-047

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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