Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of Nintendo Wii Fit(R)-based balance
rehabilitation as an adjunc-tive therapy to conventional rehabilitation in stroke
patients. METHODS: During the study period, 70 stroke patients were evaluated. Of
these, 23 who met the study criteria were randomly assigned to either the
experimental group (n = 12) or the control group (n = 11) by block randomization.
Primary outcome measures were Berg Balance Scale, Functional Reach Test, Postural
Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients, Timed Up and Go Test and Static Balance
Index. Secondary outcome measures were postural sway, as assessed with Emed-X,
Functional Independence Measure Transfer and Ambulation Scores. An evaluator who
was blinded to the groups made assessments immediately before (baseline),
immediately after (post-treatment), and 4 weeks after completion of the study
(follow-up). RESULTS: Group-time interaction was significant in the Berg Balance
Scale, Functional Reach Test, anteroposterior and mediolateral centre of pressure
displacement with eyes open, anteroposterior centre of pressure displacement with
eyes closed, centre of pressure displacement during weight shifting to affected
side, to unaffected side and total centre of pressure displacement during weight
shifting. Demonstrating significant group-time interaction in those parameters
suggests that, while both groups exhibited significant improvement, the
experimental group showed greater improvement than the control group. CONCLUSION:
Virtual reality exercises with the Nintendo Wii system could represent a useful
adjunctive therapy to traditional treatment to improve static and dynamic balance
in stroke patients.

Langue : ANGLAIS