title: Change in functional balance after an exercise program with Nintendo Wii in Latino patients with cerebral palsy: a case series.
abstract: [Purpose] This study aimed to explore the possibility of improving functional balance using an exercise program with Nintendo and the Balance Board peripheral in subjects with cerebral palsy. [Subjects and Methods] This study included 4 male outpatients of a neurological center. All participants received an exercise program based on the use of Nintendo with the Balance Board peripheral. Training consisted of three 25-min sessions per week for 6 weeks. Each session was guided by a physical therapist. Timed up-and-go and one-leg standing tests were conducted before and after the intervention. [Results] All subjects showed significant improvements in the results of the timed up-and-go test. However, there were no significant changes in the results of the one-leg standing test. [Conclusion] The exercise protocol involving Nintendo with the Balance Board peripheral appears to improve functional dynamic balance in patients with cerebral palsy. However, static functional balance does not improve after 6 weeks of training.
authors.affiliation: Human Motor Control Laboratory, Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Talca, Chile.
authors.forename: Valeska
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gatica-Rojas
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Universidad de Concepción, Chile.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cartes-Velásquez
authors.affiliation: Human Motor Control Laboratory, Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Talca, Chile.
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Méndez-Rebolledo
authors.affiliation: School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Talca, Universidad de Talca, Chile.
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Olave-Godoy
authors.affiliation: School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Talca, Universidad de Talca, Chile.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Villalobos-Rebolledo
keywords: Cerebral palsy; Functional balance; Nintendo Wii