Game-based exercises for dynamic short-sitting balance rehabilitation of people with chronic spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries.
OBJECTIVE
Goal-oriented, task-specific training has been shown to improve function; however, it can be difficult to maintain patient interest. This report describes a rehabilitation protocol for the maintenance of balance in a short-sitting position following spinal cord and head injuries by use of a center-of-pressure-controlled video game-based tool. The scientific justification for the selected treatment is discussed.


METHODS
Three adults were treated: 1 young adult with spina bifida (T10 and L1-L2), 1 middle-aged adult with complete paraplegia (complete lesion at T11-L1), and 1 middle-aged adult with traumatic brain injury. All patients used wheelchairs full-time.


RESULTS
The patients showed increased motivation to perform the game-based exercises and increased dynamic short-sitting balance.


CONCLUSIONS
The patients exhibited increases in practice volume and attention span during training with the game-based tool. In addition, they demonstrated substantial improvements in dynamic balance control. These observations indicate that a video game-based exercise approach can have a substantial positive effect by improving dynamic short-sitting balance.
Betker
Aimee L
AL
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Desai
Ankur
A
Nett
Cristabel
C
Kapadia
Naaz
N
Szturm
Tony
T
D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae; D018910:Video Games