Citation

Montero-Alía P, Muñoz-Ortiz L, Jiménez-González M, Benedicto-Pañell C, Altimir-Losada S, López-Colomer Y, Prat-Rovira J, Amargant-Rubio JF, Jastes SM, Moreno-Buitrago A, Rodríguez-Pérez MC, Teixidó-Vargas C, Albarrán-Sánchez JL, Candel-Gil A, Serra-Serra D, Martí-Cervantes JJ, Sánchez-Pérez CA, Sañudo-Blanco L, Dolader-Olivé S, Torán-Monserrat P. BMC Geriatr. 2016; 16(1): e8.

Affiliation

Primary Healthcare Research Support Unit Metropolitana Nord, Institute of Primary Care Research (IDIAP) Jordi Gol, Calle Major 49-53, 08921, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain. ptoran.bnm.ics@gencat.cat.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group - BMC)

DOI

10.1186/s12877-015-0178-x

PMID

26796956

PMCID

PMC4722618

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Balance alteration is a risk factor for falls in elderly individuals that has physical, psychological and economic consequences. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the usefulness of an intervention utilizing the Nintendo™ Wii console in order to improve balance, thereby decreasing both the fear of falling as well as the number of falls, and to evaluate the correlation between balance as determined by the console and the value obtained in the Tinetti tests and the one foot stationary test.

METHODS/DESIGN: This is a controlled, randomized clinical trial of individual assignment, carried out on patients over 70 years in age, from five primary care centers in the city of Mataró (Barcelona). 380 patients were necessary for the intervention group that carried out the balance board exercises in 2 sessions per week for a 3 month period, and 380 patients in the control group who carried out their usual habits. Balance was evaluated using the Tinetti test, the one foot stationary test and with the console, at the start of the study, at the end of the intervention (3 months) and one year later. Quarterly telephone follow-up was also conducted to keep track of falls and their consequences.

DISCUSSION: The study aimed to connect the community with a technology that may be an easy and fun way to assist the elderly in improving their balance without the need to leave home or join rehabilitation groups, offering greater comfort for this population and decreasing healthcare costs since there is no need for specialized personnel. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Control Trial NCT02570178.

Language: en