Article

OBJECTIVES: To examine the safety, feasibility, and balance performance effects
of a 4-week home-based balance therapy program using a commercially available videogame system.
DESIGN: A pilot study involving a preintervention and
postintervention design was conducted with measurements taken at baseline,
immediately postintervention (week 5), and at follow-up (week 13) for retention.
SETTING: University hospital outpatient clinic and participants' places of
residence. PARTICIPANTS: Children and adolescents with unilateral lower limb
amputation (n=6; 3 transfemoral [TF] and 3 Van Ness) and age-matched, typically
developing individuals (n=10)
for baseline comparison. INTERVENTION: Two
videogames involving weight shifting in standing were each played at home for 20
min/d, 4d/wk for a period of 4 weeks. A physical therapist provided initial
instruction and monitoring.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Postural control
characteristics using center of pressure (COP) displacements during quiet
standing; functional balance using the Community Balance and Mobility Scale
(CB&M); and compliance, safety, and feasibility using custom questionnaires.
RESULTS: Average playing times for the first 3 weeks ranged from 16.0 to 21.1
minutes for the 2 games. At baseline, the children and adolescents with TF
amputation had substantially greater COP displacements than the Van Ness group
and typically developing children and adolescents. Immediately postintervention,
the COP displacements decreased in the TF amputees, resulting in values that were
closer to those of the typically developing children. The average increase in
CB&M score from baseline to follow-up was 6 points across participants.
CONCLUSIONS: In-home, videogame-based balance training therapies can achieve
excellent compliance in children and adolescents with lower limb amputation. With
proper instructions and monitoring, the therapeutic intervention can be safely
administered. Some improvements in postural control characteristics were seen in
children and adolescents with balance deficits immediately postintervention, but
long-term retention remains unclear.
CI - Copyright (c) 2012 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS