Effects of a balance-based exergaming intervention using the Kinect sensor on posture stability in individuals with Parkinson's disease: a single-blinded randomized controlled trial. Issue 1 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shih, Meng-Che; Wang, Ray-Yau; Cheng, Shih-Jung; Yang, Yea-Ru
• Is Part Of: Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation. Volume 13:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 9
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Balance training -- Exergaming -- Postural stability -- Parkinson's disease; Nervous system -- Diseases -- Patients -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Wounds and injuries -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Biomedical engineering; 616.8043005
• DOI: 10.1186/s12984-016-0185-y
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-0003

Abstract

Abstract Background The present study examined the effects of a balance-based exergaming intervention using the Kinect sensor on postural stability and balance in people with Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods We conducted a subject-blinded, randomized controlled study. Twenty people with PD (Hoehn and Yahr stages I through III) were recruited and randomly assigned to either a balance-based exergaming group (N = 10) or a balance training group (N = 10) for an 8-week balance training period. Postural stability was assessed using the limits of stability (LOS) and one-leg stance (OLS) tests. Balance was assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the timed up and go (TUG) test. Participants were assessed pre- and post-training. Results After training, participants in the balance-based exergaming group showed significant improvements in LOS performance, and in the eyes-closed condition of the OLS test. Both training programs led to improvements in BBS and TUG performance. Furthermore, balance-based exergaming training resulted in significantly better performance in directional control in the LOS test (78.9 ± 7.65 %) compared with conventional balance training (70.6 ± 9.37 %). Conclusions Balance-based exergaming training resulted in a greater improvement in postural stability compared with conventional balance training. Our results support the therapeutic use of exergaming aided by the Kinect sensor in people with PD. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov.NCT02671396