title: Use of the Nintendo Wii Balance Board for Studying Standing Static Balance Control: Technical Considerations, Force-Plate Congruency, and the Effect of Battery Life.
abstract: The Nintendo Wii Balance Board (WBB) has become popular as a low-cost alternative to research-grade force plates. The purposes of this study were to characterize a series of technical specifications for the WBB, to compare balance control metrics derived from time-varying center of pressure (COP) signals collected simultaneously from a WBB and a research-grade force plate, and to investigate the effects of battery life. Drift, linearity, hysteresis, mass accuracy, uniformity of response, and COP accuracy were assessed from a WBB. In addition, 6 participants completed an eyes-closed quiet standing task on the WBB (at 3 battery life levels) mounted on a force plate while sway was simultaneously measured by both systems. Characterization results were all associated with less than 1% error. R2values reflecting WBB sensor linearity were > .99. Known and measured COP differences were lowest at the center of the WBB and greatest at the corners. Between-device differences in quiet stance COP summary metrics were of limited clinical significance. Lastly, battery life did not affect WBB COP accuracy, but did influence 2 of 8 quiet stance WBB parameters. This study provides general support for the WBB as a low-cost alternative to research-grade force plates for quantifying COP movement during standing.
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Waterloo.
authors.forename: Tyler B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Waterloo.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Waterloo.
authors.forename: Andrew C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Laing
mesh_terms: D034201:Computers, Handheld; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D063731:Mobile Applications; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical; D018910:Video Games; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: balance control; center of pressure; ground reaction force; postural sway