Citation

Rendon AA, Lohman EB, Thorpe D, Johnson EG, Medina E, Bradley B. Age Ageing 2012; 41(4): 549-552.

Affiliation

Physical Therapy, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Oxford University Press)

DOI

10.1093/ageing/afs053

PMID

22672915

Abstract

BACKGROUND: physical therapy interventions that increase functional strength and balance have been shown to reduce falls in older adults. AIM: this study compared a virtual reality group (VRG) and a control group (CG). DESIGN: randomised controlled 6-week intervention with pre- and post-test evaluations. SETTING: outpatient geriatric orthopaedic and balance physical therapy clinic.Population: forty participants were randomised into two groups.Method: the VRG received three different Nintendo® Wii FIT balance interventions three times per week for 6 weeks and the CG received no intervention. RESULTS: compared with the CG, post-intervention measurements showed significant improvements for the VRG in the 8-foot Up & Go test [median decrease of 1.0 versus -0.2 s, (P = 0.038) and the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (6.9 versus 1.3%) (P = 0.038)]. CONCLUSION: virtual reality gaming provides clinicians with a useful tool for improving dynamic balance and balance confidence in older adults.

Language: en