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

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.

Automated summary

The objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of Wii sports-based strategy training in reducing the risk of falling, number of falls, and improving quality of life in adults with idiopathic Parkinson's disease. The study found that a 12-week Wii training program can decrease the risk of falling and number of falls in Parkinson's disease patients, but did not alter their quality of life.