title: Sitting playfully: does the use of a centre of gravity computer game controller influence the sitting ability of young people with cerebral palsy?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An investigative study to examine whether sitting ability could be improved through the use of a suite of computer games operated by leaning in one of four directions in a seated position.
  
  
  METHODS
  Young people with cerebral palsy played with a suite of computer games controlled using a sitting platform that can detect changes in the distribution of pressure. A randomized cross-over trial with two periods of three months involving intervention or no intervention was used. Sitting ability was measured at the beginning and end of each period with participants acting as their own controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant improvements were seen in two elements of box sitting using the Chailey levels (shoulder girdle position and spinal profile) and in five elements of the Sitting Assessment for Children with Neuromotor Dysfunction across both reach and rest phases of the assessment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study provides evidence to suggest that a meaningful and engaging therapeutic activity, such as using computer games controlled by leaning the upper body, can help to improve sitting ability in children with neuromotor dysfunction. Further work is required to understand fully what effects such activities have on the various components of sitting ability. [Box: see text].
authors.affiliation: Kent Communication & Assistive Technology Service, Ashford, Kent, UK. wade@ace-centre.org.uk
authors.forename: Will
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wade
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Porter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008328:Man-Machine Systems; D009042:Motivation; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D018910:Video Games