title: Wii-fit for improving gait and balance in an assisted living facility: a pilot study.
abstract: Objectives. To determine the effects on balance and gait of a Wii-Fit program compared to a walking program in subjects with mild Alzheimer's dementia (AD). Methods. A prospective randomized (1 : 1) pilot study with two intervention arms was conducted in an assisted living facility with twenty-two mild AD subjects. In both groups the intervention occurred under supervision for 30 minutes daily, five times a week for eight weeks. Repeated measures ANOVA and paired t-tests were used to analyze changes. Results. Both groups showed improvement in Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Tinetti Test (TT) and Timed Up and Go (TUG) over 8 weeks. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups over time. Intragroup analysis in the Wii-Fit group showed significant improvement on BBS (P = 0.003), and TT (P = 0.013). The walking group showed a trend towards improvement on BBS (P = 0.06) and TUG (P = 0.07) and significant improvement in TT (P = 0.06). Conclusion. This pilot study demonstrates the safety and efficacy of Wii-Fit in an assisted living facility in subjects with mild AD. Use of Wii-Fit resulted in significant improvements in balance and gait comparable to those in the robust monitored walking program. These results need to be confirmed in a larger, methodologically sound study.
authors: Reynolds Department of Geriatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors: Kalpana P
authors: KP
authors: Padala
authors: Prasad R
authors: PR
authors: Padala
authors: Timothy R
authors: TR
authors: Malloy
authors: Jenenne A
authors: JA
authors: Geske
authors: Patricia M
authors: PM
authors: Dubbert
authors: Richard A
authors: RA
authors: Dennis
authors: Kimberly K
authors: KK
authors: Garner
authors: Melinda M
authors: MM
authors: Bopp
authors: William J
authors: WJ
authors: Burke
authors: Dennis H
authors: DH
authors: Sullivan