Does a novel exergame challenge balance and activate muscles more than existing off-the-shelf exergames?
Jente Willaert, Aijse Willem De Vries, Julie Tavernier and 3 others
PMID 31941518WHAT IT FOUND
A new exergame package elicited significantly larger weight shifts than an off-the-shelf game in all directions.
Muscle activity remained low overall, though some games sustained activity longer. Motivation was high and similar across all games tested.
Key findings
01The novel games Wasps and Slingshot elicited significantly larger center of mass displacements than the off-the-shelf game Kinski in all directions.
02The novel games did not induce high muscle activity, though the Garage game elicited longer periods of soleus activation in the 40-60% range than the other games.
03There were no significant differences in intrinsic motivation scores between the novel games and the off-the-shelf games.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sample was small (16 participants) and recruited from sports facilities, meaning they were likely more active and fit than the general older population. The study was conducted in a controlled laboratory setting, which may not reflect performance in a home environment. The study measured immediate biomechanical responses, not long-term improvements in balance or fall risk. Muscle activity was measured unilaterally on the left leg only. Game durations varied, which complicates direct comparison of total muscle activation time.
Declared interests
The study was funded by the Erasmus Mundus MoveAge project. The novel games were developed by Motekforcelink, a commercial entity, though the text does not explicitly state if they were involved in the study design or analysis.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that because the novel games challenged balance more effectively, they will reduce fall risk or build strength. The study did not test long-term outcomes, and muscle activation remained low, so these games are not a substitute for progressive strength training.