title: Effectiveness of exergaming in improving functional balance, fatigue and quality of life in Parkinson's disease: A pilot randomized controlled trial.
abstract: Although motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD) are well established, few studies have described the effects of exergaming on the clinical and functional outcomes of PD.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the effectiveness of exergaming in improving functional balance, fatigue, functional exercise capacity and quality of life in PD.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of 20 patients (12 males and 8 females) aged 61 ± 9.11 years allocated into two groups: an exergaming group (EGG) (n = 10) and a conventional exercise, or control, group (CG) (n = 10). The following variables were evaluated: functional balance (Berg Scale), fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale), functional exercise capacity (Six-Minute Walk Test) and quality of life (PDQ-39 Quality of Life Questionnaire).
  
  
  RESULTS
  RM-ANOVA showed that balance and fatigue differed significantly between time points: balance [F(1.29, 23.33) = 4.16, p = 0.043] and fatigue [F(2,36) = 5.96, p = 0.006]. In both cases post hoc Bonferroni testing revealed an improvement after 12 weeks of exergaming (p = 0.033 and p = 0.000, respectively). However, this benefit was not sustained after 60 days of follow-up for either outcome. There were no differences in functional exercise capacity or quality of life between the two groups after 12 weeks of treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exergaming was effective in enhancing balance and reducing fatigue in PD patients after 12 weeks of treatment, but this benefit was not sustained in the long-term.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Universidade Federal Do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camila Gemin
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Ribas
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Universidade Federal Do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Letícia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alves da Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Universidade Federal Do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marina Ribas
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Corrêa
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Universidade Federal Do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Hélio Ghizone
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Teive
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Universidade Federal Do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, PR, Brazil. Electronic address: svalderramas@uol.com.br.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Valderramas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Exergames; Fatigue; Parkinson's disease; Quality of life