The impact of Wii Fit intervention on dynamic balance control in children with probable Developmental Coordination Disorder and balance problems.
The aim of this study was to examine differences in the performance of children with probable Developmental Coordination Disorder (p-DCD) and balance problems (BP) and typical developing children (TD) on a Wii Fit task and to measure the effect on balance skills after a Wii Fit intervention. Twenty-eight children with BP and 20 TD-children participated in the study. Motor performance was assessed with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC2), three subtests of the Bruininks Oseretsky Test (BOT2): Bilateral Coordination, Balance and Running Speed & Agility, and a Wii Fit ski slalom test. The TD children and half of the children in the BP group were tested before and after a 6weeks non-intervention period. All children with BP received 6weeks of Wii Fit intervention (with games other than the ski game) and were tested before and afterwards. Children with BP were less proficient than TD children in playing the Wii Fit ski slalom game. Training with the Wii Fit improved their motor performance. The improvement was significantly larger after intervention than after a period of non-intervention. Therefore the change cannot solely be attributed to spontaneous development or test-retest effect. Nearly all children enjoyed participation during the 6weeks of intervention. Our study shows that Wii Fit intervention is effective and is potentially a method to support treatment of (dynamic) balance control problems in children.
Developmental and Clinical Neuropsychology, University of Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2-1, 9712 TS Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: l.d.jelsma@rug.nl.
Dorothee
D
Jelsma
Developmental and Clinical Neuropsychology, University of Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2-1, 9712 TS Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: r.h.geuze@rug.nl.
Reint H
RH
Geuze
Faculty of Behavior and Society Sciences, University of Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: r.mombarg@rug.nl.
Remo
R
Mombarg
Faculty of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, Gebouw De Nayer (GDN), Tervuursevest 101 bus 1501, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium. Electronic address: bouwiensmits@hotmail.com.
Bouwien C M
BC
Smits-Engelsman
D002648:Child; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004519:Education, Special; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D004856:Postural Balance; D012016:Reference Values; D012865:Skiing; D018910:Video Games
Anticipatory postural adjustments; Balance; DCD; Postural control; Wii Fit balance games