Wii-fit for Activity, Balance and Gait in Assisted Living

Alzheimer's Disease Clinical Trial

Official title:

Wii-fit for Activity, Balance and Gait in Assisted Living

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT01000038
• Other study ID #: 0085-09-FB
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: March 30, 2009
• Est. completion date: July 7, 2011

Study information

• Verified date: September 2023
• Source: University of Nebraska
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Falls in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) are common and lead to fractures, acute hospitalizations and increased rate of institutionalization. Poor balance and gait abnormalities, commonly associated with AD, are risk factors. Improving balance and gait abnormalities is critical in preventing these falls. Walking is the most commonly recommended home-based exercise program for elderly by primary care providers. However, it is difficult to engage patients with AD in long term exercise programs. Barriers include lack of motivation, poor engagement, and external factors such as the cost of physical therapy (PT).

The use of readily available technology might bridge this gap by providing high level of engagement via use of multimedia at an affordable price. Wii-Fit is a Nintendo gaming console used for aerobics, strength training, and balance activities. It is a TV based self-directed activity where virtual trainers talk the user through the activity while tracking progress. Some skilled nursing facilities have started using the Wii-Fit as an adjunct to PT and note improvement in balance along with social benefits, but no systematic studies are done to generalize the findings. This study will compare changes in balance and daily living activities between a group receiving Wii-Fit training and another receiving a walking exercise program.

Description:

Purpose of the study: Falls in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) are common and lead to fractures, acute hospitalizations and increased rate of institutionalization. Poor balance and gait abnormalities, commonly associated with AD, are risk factors for falls. Improving balance and gait abnormalities is critical to prevent falls in AD.

Exercise interventions improve gait and balance in elderly. Walking is the most commonly recommended home-based exercise program for elderly by primary care providers. However, it is difficult to engage patients with AD in long term exercise programs. Barriers to exercise programs include lack of motivation, poor engagement, and external factors such as the cost of physical therapy (PT). Use of readily available technology might bridge this gap by providing high level of engagement via use of multimedia at an affordable price.

Wii-Fit is a Nintendo gaming console used for aerobics, strength training, and balance activities. This device includes a balance board that senses weight, movement and balance. Wii-Fit is a TV based self-directed activity not limited by the constraint of a therapist's presence. Virtual trainers talk the user through the activity while tracking progress. Furthermore, visual and auditory feedback improves engagement. Some skilled nursing facilities have started using the Wii-Fit as an adjunct to PT, and note improvement in balance along with social benefits but no systematic studies are done to generalize the findings.

The investigators propose an 8 week prospective randomized study with the treatment group receiving the exercise program delivered by Wii-Fit system and the comparison arm receiving a walking exercise program.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 22
• Est. completion date: July 7, 2011
• Est. primary completion date: July 7, 2011
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 60 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age = 60

• Alzheimer's Dementia, mild (MMSE = 18)

• Residing in assisted living facility

• Presence of legal surrogate

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of myocardial infarction, TIA or stroke in last 6 months

• Presence of serious mental illness impacting memory

• Active cancer except skin cancer

• Medical conditions likely to compromise survival (e.g. severe congestive heart failure)

• Severe sensory and musculoskeletal impairments

• Using wheel-chair

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Alzheimer Disease
• Alzheimer's Disease
• Falls

Intervention

Other:
• Wii-Fit intervention
Half hour daily, 5 days a week for 8 weeks
• Walking
Half hour daily, five days a week for 8 weeks

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Parson's House Assisted Living	Omaha	Nebraska

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Nebraska

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

References & Publications (1)

Padala KP, Padala PR, Malloy TR, Geske JA, Dubbert PM, Dennis RA, Garner KK, Bopp MM, Burke WJ, Sullivan DH. Wii-fit for improving gait and balance in an assisted living facility: a pilot study. J Aging Res. 2012;2012:597573. doi: 10.1155/2012/597573. Epu — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Berg Balance Scale	Balance test	8 weeks
Secondary	Activities of Daily Living	Daily functioning test	8 weeks
Secondary	Instrumental Activities of Daily Living	Higher level of functioning assessment	8 weeks
Secondary	Timed Up and Go	Functional performance test	8 weeks
Secondary	Quality of Life-AD	Global quality of life measure	8 weeks
Secondary	Mini Mental State Exam	Global cognitive screen	8 weeks
Secondary	Actigraphy	Activity measure	3 days before the intervention and 3 days during the intervention
Secondary	Trails A and B	Executive function measure	8 weeks