Keizo Sato1,2, Kaoru Kuroki2, Syuko Saiki2, Ryoichi Nagatomi3. 1. 1 Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine , Sendai, Japan . 2. 2 Tohoku Fukushi University Faculty of Health Science , Sendai, Japan . 3. 3 Division of Biomedical Engineering for Health & Welfare, Tohoku University Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering , Sendai, Japan .
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Many issues prevent elderly individuals from exercising in daily life. There is a need for a system that allows elderly individuals to engage in exercise regularly at a low cost. We developed an exergame that uses a Kinect(®) sensor (Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA) and conducted a randomized controlled trial of the effects of using this exergame on muscle strength and balance in healthy elderly individuals. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We enrolled 57 healthy elderly individuals and randomly divided them into an intervention group (n=29) and a control group (n=28) using a table of random numbers. All participants underwent gait analyses and were examined using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Functional Reach Test (FRT), and the 30-second chair-stand (CS-30) test before the intervention. Participants in the intervention group played the exergame once or twice a week, up to a total of 24 times. The tests were repeated after intervention, and the scores were compared with those obtained before intervention. RESULTS: Our results indicated that walking, muscle strength, and motor function improved in participants in the intervention group. Decreased double standing time (P=0.03), minimum foot clearance (P=0.04), BBS scores (P<0.01), CS-30 scores (P<0.01), and FRT scores (P<0.01) significantly improved in the intervention group compared with values in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The Kinect-based exergame developed in this study was found to be effective in improving walking, muscular strength, and balance in elderly people.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Many issues prevent elderly individuals from exercising in daily life. There is a need for a system that allows elderly individuals to engage in exercise regularly at a low cost. We developed an exergame that uses a Kinect(®) sensor (Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA) and conducted a randomized controlled trial of the effects of using this exergame on muscle strength and balance in healthy elderly individuals. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We enrolled 57 healthy elderly individuals and randomly divided them into an intervention group (n=29) and a control group (n=28) using a table of random numbers. All participants underwent gait analyses and were examined using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Functional Reach Test (FRT), and the 30-second chair-stand (CS-30) test before the intervention. Participants in the intervention group played the exergame once or twice a week, up to a total of 24 times. The tests were repeated after intervention, and the scores were compared with those obtained before intervention. RESULTS: Our results indicated that walking, muscle strength, and motor function improved in participants in the intervention group. Decreased double standing time (P=0.03), minimum foot clearance (P=0.04), BBS scores (P<0.01), CS-30 scores (P<0.01), and FRT scores (P<0.01) significantly improved in the intervention group compared with values in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The Kinect-based exergame developed in this study was found to be effective in improving walking, muscular strength, and balance in elderly people.
Authors: Fernando L Vázquez; Patricia Otero; J Antonio García-Casal; Vanessa Blanco; Ángela J Torres; Manuel Arrojo Journal: PLoS One Date: 2018-12-11 Impact factor: 3.240