title: Development of an Exergame for Urban-dwelling Older Adults With Functional Limitations: Results and Lessons Learned.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Falls at home are common and potentially fatal for disabled older adults. To address this problem, we created an academic-community partnership involving disabled, urban-dwelling older adults and their families, the housing authority, a Tai Chi master, and a university.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We conducted a pilot to assess safety, acceptability, and feasibility of a Wii-based exergame designed to increase disabled older adults' strength and balance.
  
  
  METHODS
  A working prototype was developed and evaluated. Then, we piloted a refined version with 19 disabled urban-dwelling older adults.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The program was enjoyable, feasible, and acceptable. Participants described multiple functional improvements. Of the 16 who completed at least three gaming sessions, average balance score increased 25% and gait speed increased 19%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot showed promising results for improving strength and balance in the home setting, and yielded valuable lessons about health technology development with community partners.
authors.forename: Sarah L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Szanton
authors.forename: Rachel K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Jyong H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Andong
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zhan
authors.forename: Laura N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Gitlin
authors.forename: Roland J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Thorpe
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Terzis
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research / Q000379:methods*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015444:Exercise; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D026302:Tai Ji; D014505:Urban Population; D018910:Video Games