title: The use of a home exercise program based on a computer system in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the effectiveness of a home exercise program based on a user-friendly, computer system, the Nintendo Wii Fit.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this longitudinal study, 25 clinically stable patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease began a 6-week nonintervention (baseline) period followed by 12 weeks of Wii exercise training at home. Patients were instructed to exercise 5 or more days per week. Exercise capacity, health status, and dyspnea were evaluated after home exercise training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Evaluable data were available in 20 patients after home exercise training; their force expiratory volume in 1 second was 45 ± 16%. Following 12 weeks of Wii exercise training, the Endurance Shuttle Walk Test increased by 131 ± 183 seconds over the baseline determination (P = .005). Significant improvements were also noted in arm-lift and sit-to-stand repetitions, the total score, and the emotion dimension of the Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire. Men had significantly greater increases in the Endurance Shuttle Walk Test than women, although their self-reported exercise durations were similar. There were no significant adverse outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that 12 weeks of regular, home exercise based on an interactive entertainment computer system can lead to positive short-term outcomes.
authors.affiliation: University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Albores
authors.forename: Corliss
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marolda
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haggerty
authors.forename: Brett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gerstenhaber
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zuwallack
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003199:Computer Systems; D015444:Exercise; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*