title: Does the use of Nintendo Wii SportsTMimprove arm function? Trial of WiiTMin Stroke: a randomized controlled trial and economics analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Trial of Wii™ in Stroke investigated the efficacy of using the Nintendo Wii Sports™ (WiiTM) to improve affected arm function after stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multicentre, pragmatic, parallel group, randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Home-based rehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 240 participants aged 24-90 years with arm weakness following a stroke within the previous six months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were randomly assigned to exercise daily for six weeks using the WiiTMor arm exercises at home.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary outcome was change in the affected arm function at six weeks follow-up using the Action Research Arm Test. Secondary outcomes included occupational performance, quality of life, arm function at six months and a cost effectiveness analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study was completed by 209 participants (87.1%). There was no significant difference in the primary outcome of affected arm function at six weeks follow-up (mean difference -1.7, 95% CI -3.9 to 0.5, p = 0.12) and no significant difference in secondary outcomes, including occupational performance, quality of life or arm function at six months, between the two groups. No serious adverse events related to the study treatment were reported. The cost effectiveness analysis showed that the WiiTMwas more expensive than arm exercises £1106 (SD 1656) vs. £730 (SD 829) (probability 0.866).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The trial showed that the WiiTMwas not superior to arm exercises in home-based rehabilitation for stroke survivors with arm weakness. The WiiTMwas well tolerated but more expensive than arm exercises.
authors.affiliation: 1 Stroke and Eldercare, Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust, Cornwall, UK.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Adie
authors.affiliation: 2 Research, Development and Innovation, Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust, Truro, UK.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schofield
authors.affiliation: 3 Peninsula Clinical Trials Unit, Plymouth University Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth, UK.
authors.forename: Margie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berrow
authors.affiliation: 2 Research, Development and Innovation, Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust, Truro, UK.|4 University of Exeter Medical School (Primary Care), St Luke's Campus, Exeter, UK.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wingham
authors.affiliation: 5 Patient representative.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Humfryes
authors.affiliation: 2 Research, Development and Innovation, Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust, Truro, UK.
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pritchard
authors.affiliation: 6 Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital/University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: James
authors.affiliation: 7 Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, Newton Abbott Hospital, Devon, UK.
authors.forename: Rhoda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Allison
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018910:Video Games; D063367:Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Stroke; arm; randomized controlled trial; rehabilitation; virtual reality