Comparison of neuromuscular and cardiovascular exercise intensity and enjoyment between standard of care, off-the-shelf and custom active video games for promotion of physical activity of persons post-stroke.
Judith E Deutsch, Aurora James-Palmer, Harish Damodaran and 1 others
PMID 33853608WHAT IT FOUND
Custom active video games matched the exercise intensity of off-the-shelf games and standard care but produced more accurate stepping.
Participants found the custom games more enjoyable and less effortful, suggesting they are a viable tool for balancing fitness with movement quality in stroke rehab.
Key findings
01Custom games achieved similar cardiovascular and neuromuscular intensity to off-the-shelf games and standard care, but with better movement accuracy.
02Participants rated the custom games as more enjoyable and less effortful compared to the off-the-shelf Kinect game.
03There was no significant difference in heart rate response between the four conditions, though metabolic equivalents were higher for the off-the-shelf game compared to one custom mode.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The study included only 15 participants, with one excluded from analysis, limiting generalizability. Data were collected in a single session, so it is unclear if the novelty of the games affected enjoyment or performance over time. Participants had mild to moderate lower extremity deficits and could walk unaided, so results may not apply to those with severe mobility impairments. While some differences were statistically significant, not all reached the threshold for clinical importance, and there are no standard reference values for interpreting step repetition counts.
Declared interests
Funding was provided by TechAdvance Rutgers University and SHP Summer Internships. No commercial conflicts of interest with game manufacturers were declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that higher step counts in off-the-shelf games equate to better therapy. The study found that while commercial games increased intensity, they reduced movement accuracy compared to custom games, which may be detrimental for retraining proper gait mechanics.