TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2012//
TI  - The effect of virtual reality gaming on dynamic balance in older adults
JO  - Age and ageing
A1  - Rendon, Abel Angel
A1  - Lohman, Everett B.
A1  - Thorpe, Donna
A1  - Johnson, Eric G.
A1  - Medina, Ernie
A1  - Bradley, Bruce
SP  - 549
EP  - 552
VL  - 41
IS  - 4
N2  - BACKGROUND: physical therapy interventions that increase functional strength and balance have been shown to reduce falls in older adults. AIM: this study compared a virtual reality group (VRG) and a control group (CG). DESIGN: randomised controlled 6-week intervention with pre- and post-test evaluations. SETTING: outpatient geriatric orthopaedic and balance physical therapy clinic.Population: forty participants were randomised into two groups.Method: the VRG received three different Nintendo® Wii FIT balance interventions three times per week for 6 weeks and the CG received no intervention. RESULTS: compared with the CG, post-intervention measurements showed significant improvements for the VRG in the 8-foot Up & Go test [median decrease of 1.0 versus -0.2 s, (P = 0.038) and the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (6.9 versus 1.3%) (P = 0.038)]. CONCLUSION: virtual reality gaming provides clinicians with a useful tool for improving dynamic balance and balance confidence in older adults.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0002-0729
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afs053
ID  - ref1
ER  -