Influence of the Use of Wii Games on Physical Frailty Components in Institutionalized Older Adults

Jerónimo J. González-Bernal, Maha Jahouh, Josefa González-Santos, Juan Mielgo-Ayuso, Diego Fernández-Lázaro and Raúl Soto-Cámara
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Jerónimo J. González-Bernal: Department of Health Sciences, University of Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Spain
Maha Jahouh: Department of Health Sciences, University of Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Spain
Josefa González-Santos: Department of Health Sciences, University of Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Spain
Juan Mielgo-Ayuso: Department of Health Sciences, University of Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Spain
Diego Fernández-Lázaro: Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Campus of Soria, University of Valladolid, 42003 Soria, Spain
Raúl Soto-Cámara: Department of Health Sciences, University of Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 5, 1-11

Abstract: Aging is a multifactorial physiological phenomenon in which cellular and molecular changes occur. These changes lead to poor locomotion, poor balance, and an increased falling risk. This study aimed to determine the impact and effectiveness of the use of the Wii ® game console on improving walking speed and balance, as well as its influence on frailty levels and falling risk, in older adults. A longitudinal study was designed with a pretest/post-test structure. The study population comprised people over 75 years of age who lived in a nursing home or attended a day care center ( n = 80; 45 women; 84.2 ± 8.7 years). Forty of them were included in the Wii group (20 rehabilitation sessions during 8 consecutive weeks), and the other 40 were in the control group. Falling risk and frailty were evaluated using the Downton scale and Fried scale; balance and walking speed were assessed with the Berg Balance scale and the Gait Speed Test, respectively, as well as the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). The results showed that there was no significant association between Frailty Phenotype and study groups in baseline. However, there was significant association between Frailty Phenotype and study groups at the end of study. Moreover, a significantly higher and negative percentage change (?) in the Wii group with respect to the control group on the in falling risk (?20.05 ± 35.14% vs. 7.92 ± 24.53%) and in walking speed (?6.42 ± 8.83% vs. ?0.12 ± 4.51%) during study, while there was a higher and positive significant percent change in static balance (6.07 ± 5.74% vs. 2.13 ± 4.64%) and on the SPPB (20.28 ± 20.05% vs. 0.71 ± 7.99%) after 8 weeks of study. The main conclusion of this study was that the use of the Wii ® video console for 8 weeks positively influenced walking speed, falling risk, static balance, and frailty levels in older adults. Through a rehabilitation program with the Wii ® game console in the older adults, frailty levels are reduced, accompanied by a reduction in falling risk and an increase in static balance and walking speed.

Keywords: frailty; walking speed; falling risk; balance; Wii; older people; Spain (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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