title: Exergaming as a Viable Therapeutic Tool to Improve Static and Dynamic Balance among Older Adults and People with Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
abstract: The use of virtual reality games (known as "exergaming") as a neurorehabilitation tool is gaining interest. Therefore, we aim to collate evidence for the effects of exergaming on the balance and postural control of older adults and people with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD). Six electronic databases were searched, from inception to April 2015, to identify relevant studies. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to calculate effect sizes between experimental and control groups. I (2) statistics were used to determine levels of heterogeneity. 325 older adults and 56 people with IPD who were assessed across 11 -studies. The results showed that exergaming improved static balance (SMD 1.069, 95% CI 0.563-1.576), postural control (SMD 0.826, 95% CI 0.481-1.170), and dynamic balance (SMD -0.808, 95% CI -1.192 to -0.424) in healthy older adults. Two IPD studies showed an improvement in static balance (SMD 0.124, 95% CI -0.581 to 0.828) and postural control (SMD 2.576, 95% CI 1.534-3.599). Our findings suggest that exergaming might be an appropriate therapeutic tool for improving balance and postural control in older adults, but more -large-scale trials are needed to determine if the same is true for people with IPD.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University , Burwood, VIC , Australia.
authors.forename: Dale M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University , Burwood, VIC , Australia.
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rantalainen
authors.affiliation: Movement to Health (M2H) Laboratory, Euromov, University of Montpellier , Montpellier , France.
authors.forename: Makii
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muthalib
authors.affiliation: Clinical Exercise Science Research Program, Institute of Sport Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL), Victoria University , Melbourne, VIC , Australia ; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne , Melbourne, VIC , Australia.
authors.forename: Liam
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University , Burwood, VIC , Australia.
authors.forename: Wei-Peng
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Teo
keywords: Parkinson’s; adults; balance; exergaming; older