title: Effect of Wii-based balance training on corticomotor excitability post stroke.
abstract: The objective was to examine the effectiveness of a 3-week balance training program using the Nintendo Wii Fit gaming system (Nintendo Wii Sports, Nintendo, Redmond, WA) on lower limb corticomotor excitability and other clinical measures in chronic stroke survivors. Ten individuals diagnosed with ischemic stroke with residual hemiparesis received balance training using the Wii Fit for 60 min/day, three times/week, for three weeks. At the end of training, an increase in interhemispheric symmetry of corticomotor excitability of the tibialis anterior muscle representations was noted (n = 9). Participants also showed improvements in reaction time, time to perform the Dual Timed-Up-and-Go test, and balance confidence. The training-induced balance in corticomotor excitability suggests that this Wii-based balance training paradigm has the potential to influence neural plasticity and thereby functional recovery.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physical Therapy , University of Illinois at Chicago.
authors.forename: Oluwabunmi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Omiyale
authors.forename: Charles R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Crowell
authors.forename: Sangeetha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Madhavan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D018910:Video Games
keywords: Nintendo Wii Fit; balance; corticomotor excitability; stroke; transcranial magnetic stimulation