Effects of interactive video-game-based exercise on balance in older adults with mild-to-moderate Parkinson's disease.
Rey-Yue Yuan, Shih-Ching Chen, Chih-Wei Peng and 3 others
PMID 32660512WHAT IT FOUND
Hospital-based supervised video-game stepping training improved Berg Balance Scale scores in the group that did it second, but not in the group that did it first, in 24 older adults with mild-to-moderate Parkinson's disease.
Key findings
01The primary Berg Balance Scale outcome improved in Group B at week 12 relative to baseline and week 6, whereas Group A showed no significant time differences; in the second 6-week period, the between-group BBS change was -3.1 ± 4.9 for Group A and 9.9 ± 7.2 for Group B.
02Changes in Modified Falls Efficacy Scale scores differed significantly between groups in both 6-week periods, with the group receiving IVGB training in that period showing the higher mean change.
03IVGB training did not significantly alter any SF-36 quality-of-life subscale.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The sample was small: 24 participants, 12 per group. The groups were not equal at baseline: Group B had a lower mean MMSE score and fewer females than Group A. The authors note that the group training second had a lower baseline Berg Balance Scale score (36.2 ± 8.9 vs 50.7 ± 3.5), which may partly explain the different primary outcome. The primary Berg Balance Scale result was inconsistent across periods: Group A showed no significant time differences, while Group B improved at week 12. No conventional motor rehabilitation group was compared. All training was hospital-based with a physical therapist present, so home-based feasibility was not tested. Physiological variables such as heart rate and pulse rate were not assessed. The intervention bundled several components, including a modified game system, fixed step mat, auditory and visual feedback, difficulty adjustment, and physical-therapist supervision, so the contribution of any single component cannot be separated. The paper does not describe the randomisation method or report dropout and completion numbers.
Declared interests
Funding was provided by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan and the Ministry of Education. No other conflicts are stated in the supplied text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that video-game training is proven better than conventional balance therapy or ready for home use. The study was small, all sessions were hospital-based with a physical therapist, and no conventional rehabilitation group was compared; the primary Berg Balance Scale result was not significant in the first 6-week period.