title: Interactive virtual reality Wii in geriatric day hospital: a study to assess its feasibility, acceptability and efficacy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Rehabilitation using interactive virtual reality Wii (Wii-IVR) was shown to be feasible in patients with different medical problems, but there was no study examining its use in a geriatric day hospital (GDH). The aim of the present study was to test the feasibility, acceptability and efficacy of Wii-IVR in GDH.
  
  
  METHODS
  It was a clinical trial with matched historic controls. Patients of a GDH were recruited to participate in Wii-IVR by playing "Wii Fit". Participants used a Wii controller to carry out movements involved in an arm ergometer. Each participant received eight sessions of Wii-IVR in addition to conventional GDH rehabilitation. Feasibility was assessed by the total time receiving Wii-IVR, the percentage of maximal heart rate reserve (%MHR) and Borg perceived exertion scale (BS) after participating in Wii-IVR. %MHR and BS were compared with those after carrying out an arm ergometer for the same duration. Acceptability was assessed by an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Efficacy was assessed by comparing improvements in Functional Independence Measure (FIM) between participants and matched historic controls, who received conventional GDH rehabilitations only.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 30 patients completed the study. Participants completed a total of 1941 min of event-free Wii-IVR. The mean %MHR was 15.9% ± 9.9% and the mean BS was 7.9 ± 2.3. There was no significant difference in %MHR and BS between participating in Wii-IVR and arm ergometer. Most participants found Wii-IVR similar to the arm ergometer, and would like to continue Wii-IVR if they had Wii at home. Improvements in FIM of participants were significantly more than that of historic controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Wii-IVR in GDH was feasible and most participants accepted it. Participants had more improvements in FIM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Tuen Ching
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Yat Fung
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Shea
authors.forename: Oi Yee
authors.initials: OY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: James Ka Hay
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Luk
authors.forename: Felix Hon Wai
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000502:physiology*; D018910:Video Games