TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2024//
TI  - Exergame and cognitive training for preventing falls in community-dwelling older people: a randomized controlled trial
JO  - Nature medicine
A1  - Sturnieks, Daina L.
A1  - Hicks, Cameron
A1  - Smith, Natassia
A1  - Ratanapongleka, Mayna
A1  - Menant, Jasmine
A1  - Turner, Jessica
A1  - Lo, Joanne
A1  - Chaplin, Carly
A1  - Garcia, Jaime
A1  - Valenzuela, Michael J.
A1  - Delbaere, Kim
A1  - Herbert, Robert D.
A1  - Sherrington, Catherine
A1  - Toson, Barbara
A1  - Lord, Stephen R.
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - Exergame training, in which video games are used to promote exercise, can be tailored to address cognitive and physical risk factors for falls and is a promising method for fall prevention in older people. Here, we performed a randomized clinical trial using the smart±step gaming system to examine the effectiveness of two home-based computer game interventions, seated cognitive training and step exergame training, for fall prevention in community-dwelling older people, as compared with a minimal-intervention control group. Participants aged 65 years or older (n = 769, 71% female) living independently in the community were randomized to one of three arms: (1) cognitive training using a computerized touchpad while seated, (2) exergame step training on a computerized mat or (3) control (provided with an education booklet on healthy ageing and fall prevention). The rate of falls reported monthly over 12 months-the primary outcome of the trial-was significantly reduced in the exergame training group compared with the control group (incidence rate ratio = 0.74, 95% confidence interval = 0.56-0.98), but was not statistically different between the cognitive training and control groups (incidence rate ratio = 0.86, 95% confidence interval = 0.65-1.12). No beneficial effects of the interventions were found for secondary outcomes of physical and cognitive function, and no serious intervention-related adverse events were reported. The results of this trial support the use of exergame step training for preventing falls in community-dwelling older people. As this intervention can be conducted at home and requires only minimal equipment, it has the potential for scalability as a public health intervention to address the increasing problem of falls and fall-related injuries. Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry identifier: ACTRN12616001325493.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1078-8956
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41591-023-02739-0
ID  - ref1
ER  -