Wii-fit for Activity, Balance and Gait in Assisted Living
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
Purpose of the study: Falls in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) are common and lead to fractures, acute hospitalizations and increased rate of institutionalization. Poor balance and gait abnormalities, commonly associated with AD, are risk factors for falls. Improving balance and gait abnormalities is critical to prevent falls in AD.
Exercise interventions improve gait and balance in elderly. Walking is the most commonly recommended home-based exercise program for elderly by primary care providers. However, it is difficult to engage patients with AD in long term exercise programs. Barriers to exercise programs include lack of motivation, poor engagement, and external factors such as the cost of physical therapy (PT). Use of readily available technology might bridge this gap by providing high level of engagement via use of multimedia at an affordable price.
Wii-Fit is a Nintendo gaming console used for aerobics, strength training, and balance activities. This device includes a balance board that senses weight, movement and balance. Wii-Fit is a TV based self-directed activity not limited by the constraint of a therapist's presence. Virtual trainers talk the user through the activity while tracking progress. Furthermore, visual and auditory feedback improves engagement. Some skilled nursing facilities have started using the Wii-Fit as an adjunct to PT, and note improvement in balance along with social benefits but no systematic studies are done to generalize the findings.
The investigators propose an 8 week prospective randomized study with the treatment group receiving the exercise program delivered by Wii-Fit system and the comparison arm receiving a walking exercise program.
| Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Detailed Description
Purpose of the study: Falls in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) are common and lead to fractures, acute hospitalizations and increased rate of institutionalization. Poor balance and gait abnormalities, commonly associated with AD, are risk factors for falls. Improving balance and gait abnormalities is critical to prevent falls in AD.
Exercise interventions improve gait and balance in elderly. Walking is the most commonly recommended home-based exercise program for elderly by primary care providers. However, it is difficult to engage patients with AD in long term exercise programs. Barriers to exercise programs include lack of motivation, poor engagement, and external factors such as the cost of physical therapy (PT). Use of readily available technology might bridge this gap by providing high level of engagement via use of multimedia at an affordable price.
Wii-Fit is a Nintendo gaming console used for aerobics, strength training, and balance activities. This device includes a balance board that senses weight, movement and balance. Wii-Fit is a TV based self-directed activity not limited by the constraint of a therapist's presence. Virtual trainers talk the user through the activity while tracking progress. Furthermore, visual and auditory feedback improves engagement. Some skilled nursing facilities have started using the Wii-Fit as an adjunct to PT, and note improvement in balance along with social benefits but no systematic studies are done to generalize the findings.
The investigators propose an 8 week prospective randomized study with the treatment group receiving the exercise program delivered by Wii-Fit system and the comparison arm receiving a walking exercise program.
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
| Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| Experimental: Wii-Fit Intervention Intervention: Subjects in this arm participate in Wii-Fit exercises |
Other: Wii-Fit intervention
Half hour daily, 5 days a week for 8 weeks
Other Names:
Other: Walking
Half hour daily, five days a week for 8 weeks
Other Names:
|
| Active Comparator: Walking Intervention Intervention: Subjects in this arm participate in walking |
Other: Walking
Half hour daily, five days a week for 8 weeks
Other Names:
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Berg Balance Scale [8 weeks]
Balance test
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Activities of Daily Living [8 weeks]
Daily functioning test
- Instrumental Activities of Daily Living [8 weeks]
Higher level of functioning assessment
- Timed Up and Go [8 weeks]
Functional performance test
- Quality of Life-AD [8 weeks]
Global quality of life measure
- Mini Mental State Exam [8 weeks]
Global cognitive screen
- Actigraphy [3 days before the intervention and 3 days during the intervention]
Activity measure
- Trails A and B [8 weeks]
Executive function measure
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
-
Age ≥ 60
-
Alzheimer's Dementia, mild (MMSE ≥ 18)
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Residing in assisted living facility
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Presence of legal surrogate
Exclusion Criteria:
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History of myocardial infarction, TIA or stroke in last 6 months
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Presence of serious mental illness impacting memory
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Active cancer except skin cancer
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Medical conditions likely to compromise survival (e.g. severe congestive heart failure)
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Severe sensory and musculoskeletal impairments
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Using wheel-chair
Contacts and Locations
Locations
| Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parson's House Assisted Living | Omaha | Nebraska | United States | 68164 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- University of Nebraska
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Kalpana P Padala, MD, MS, University of Nebraska
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
None provided.- 085-09-FB