Parker M, Delahunty B, Heberlein N, Devenish N, Wood FM, Jackson T, Carter T, Edgar DW. Burns 2015; 42(1): 91-96.
Affiliation
Burn Service of Western Australian, Royal Perth Hospital, Western Australia, Australia; Fiona Wood Foundation, Perth, Australia; Burn Injury Research Node, University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia. Electronic address: dale.edgar@health.wa.gov.au.
INTRODUCTION: Interactive gaming consoles (IGCs) have been used successfully in rehabilitation settings as an adjunct to conventional exercise for restoring or maintaining active function and augmenting pharmacological analgesia.
AIM: The objective of this pilot study was to assess if adjunctive use of the Nintendo Wii IGC was of benefit to acute burn patients.
METHOD: This was a randomized, controlled trial. The intervention group received routine rehabilitation in addition to up to 5 days of twice daily, 20-30min of exercise using the Nintendo Wii IGC. The control group received routine rehabilitation exercise therapy.
RESULTS: A total of 22 subjects were recruited and randomized by location of burn to intervention and control groups. Pain scores were significantly improved in the intervention group (r(2)=1.18; 95%CI -0.584 to -0.298, p=0.019) as indicated by a 17% greater drop in the pre-post-study pain compared to controls. Fear avoidance and ROM measurements were not statistically different between the groups.
CONCLUSION: The Nintendo Wii IGC was associated with a greater reduction in pain, particularly in those with higher levels of pain at baseline.