Effectiveness of Wii sports- based strategy training in reducing risk of falling,falls and improving quality of life in adults with idiopathic Parkinson's disease- a randomized comparative trial

Abstract

Objective

To assess the effectiveness of Wii sports-based strategy training on risk of falling, falls and quality of life in adults with idiopathic Parkinson's disease.

Design

Single blind, Randomised comparative trial.

Setting

Hospital and home

Subjects

Diagnosed as idiopathic Parkinson's disease, Hoehn-Yahr stage 2.5 to 4, history of at least 3 falls in the last 3 months.

Intervention

Experimental group participated in 30–40 min of Wii training, 3 session/week for 12 weeks and control group participated for the same duration in traditional balance training. During each session both the group received 30 min of conventional physiotherapy.

Outcomes

Number of fallers, Fall rate, Berg balance scale, Timed up and go test, Parkinson's disease questionnaire 39, at baseline, 12^th and 36^th week after baseline.

Results

We randomised 192 participants. Participant's characteristics were similar between Wii and control group at base line, in age 69.7 ± 10, 68.5 ± 9.8, disease severity 3.43 ± 0.56, 3.42 ± 0.59, and fall rate 10.47 ± 15.78, 11.80 ± 18.95 (in mean ± SD). At 12^th week 28%(27), 51%(49) & 36^th week 45%(42), 60%(57) in Wii-group, control group fell at least once, respectively. Wii group improved more than control group at 12^th, 36^th week in number of fallers (−23%, p < 0.001) (−15%, p < 0.039), fall rates −2.635(−5.38 to 0.112), −1.476(−5.09 to 2.142) (difference in mean, Confidence Interval) and bodily discomfort component of PDQ 39.

Conclusion

A 12 weeks exercise training using the Wii sports-based strategy decreases the number of fallers, fall rate, measures of risk of falling but did not alter the quality of life in adults with idiopathic Parkinson's disease.