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Original research| Volume 96, ISSUE 12, P2096-2102, December 2015

Effectiveness of Exergaming Training in Reducing Risk and Incidence of Falls in Frail Older Adults With a History of Falls

Published:September 07, 2015DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2015.08.427

      Abstract

      Objective

      To use Nintendo's Wii Fit balance board to determine the effectiveness of exergaming training in reducing risk and incidence of falls in older adults with a history of falls.

      Design

      Randomized controlled trial.

      Setting

      Nursing home for older adults.

      Participants

      Adults aged 65 years and older (N=60).

      Interventions

      Participants who lived in a nursing home had 6 weeks of balance training with either Wii Fit equipment or conventional exercise.

      Main Outcome Measures

      Physiological Profile Assessment scores and incidence of falls were observed with subsequent intention-to-treat statistical analyses.

      Results

      Physiological Profile Assessment scores and incidence of falls improved significantly in both groups after the intervention (all P<.01), but participants in the Wii Fit training group showed a significantly greater improvement in both outcome measures (P=.004 and P<.001, respectively).

      Conclusions

      In institutionalized older adults with a history of falls, Wii Fit balance training was more effective than conventional balance training in reducing the risk and incidence of falls.

      Keywords

      List of abbreviations:

      FAC (Functional Ambulation Category), PPA (Physical Profile Assessment), RCT (randomized controlled trial)
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      References

      1. Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department 2008, Aging Population. Available at: http://www3.news.gov.hk/isd/ebulletin/en/category/administration/070222/html/070222en01005.htm. Accessed April 25, 2012.

      2. World Health Organization 2010, Falls fact sheet. Available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs344/en/index.html. Accessed April 25, 2012.

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