Effectiveness of Wii Sports Training on Stepping Characters in People with Idiopathic Parkinson’s disease – a Comparative Pilot Study

Abstract

Stepping is an essential postural control strategy that increases the base of support thus averting falls during activities of daily living, which is impaired in Parkinson’s disease.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effectiveness of Wii sporttraining over Wii fit training in improving stepping characters in people with Parkinson’s disease.

METHODS

This is a randomised, comparative, single blind study.18 participants diagnosed as idiopathic Parkinson’s disease and under stable medications were included. In addition to 30 minutes of conventional physiotherapy, 9 participants played Wii Sports games and 9 participants played Wii fit games for 10 to 15 minutes, weekly 3 days for 12 weeks at home. Push and release test and step length were taken at baseline and at 12 weeks, at hospital setting to measure the stepping characters.

RESULTS

Participants characters were similar at baseline in age74.1 ± 9.3,73.6 ± 8.7, disease severity 3.7 ± 0.5, 3.6 ± 0.5(Wii Sports group, Wii Fit group respectively). Significant effect with time factor was observed for Push and release testp =0.004 (Wii sports group) and p = 0.031(Wii fit group),for step lengthp< 0.001 (Wii sports group) and p = 0.009 (Wii fit group). Significant time x group interaction was observed for push and release test (p = 0.044).

LIMITATIONS:1) This study was conducted with small sample, 2) laboratory measurement was not used for analysing the stepping characters.

CONCLUSION

Wii Sports-training is effective in improving steppingcharacters in people with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease.

KEY WORDS: - Parkinson’s disease - Wii training –stepping.