title: Balance evaluation in haemophilic preadolescent patients using Nintendo Wii Balance Board®.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alterations in the musculoskeletal system, especially in the lower limbs, limit physical activity and affect balance and walking. Postural impairments in haemophilic preteens could increase the risk of bleeding events and deteriorate the physical condition, promoting the progression of haemophilic arthropathy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to evaluate static postural balance in haemophilic children, assessed by means of the Wii Balance Board®(WBB).
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen children with haemophilia and 19 without haemophilia aged 9-10 years, have participated in this study. Postural balance was assessed by performing four tests, each one lasting 15 s: bipodal eyes open (BEO), bipodal eyes closed (BEC), monopodal dominant leg (MD) and monopodal non-dominant leg (MND). Two balance indices, standard deviation of amplitude (SDA) and standard deviation of velocity (SDV) were calculated in the anterior-posterior (AP) and medial-lateral (ML) directions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Index values were higher in haemophilic group and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05) in only six (SDAAP in BEO, BEC and MD conditions, SDAML in BEO, SDVAP in BEO and SDVML in MND condition) of 16 parameters analysed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tests performed indicate a poorer static postural balance in the haemophilic cohort compared to the control group. Accordingly, physiotherapy programmes, physical activity and sports should be designed to improve the postural balance with the aim of preventing joint deterioration and improving quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.|Haemostasis and Thrombosis Unit, University and Polytechnic Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pérez-Alenda
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.|Intelligent Data Analysis Laboratory, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Carrasco
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.|Rehabilitation Service, University and Polytechnic Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aguilar-Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martínez-Gómez
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.|Servicio de Rehabilitación, Hospital de Sagunto, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Querol-Giner
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, School of Biomedical and Health Science, European University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.|Real Fundación Victoria Eugenia, Madrid, Spain.|Federación Española de Hemofilia, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cuesta-Barriuso
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Social Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torres-Ortuño
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.|Haemostasis and Thrombosis Unit, University and Polytechnic Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Querol
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D018910:Video Games
keywords: Wii Balance Board®; balance; haemophilia; joint score; preadolescent