Gaming vs.Bobath: Function and Ability

Randomized Trial

Video-game based therapy performed by children with cerebral palsy: a cross-over randomized controlled trial and a cross-sectional quantitative measure of physical therapy

Zoccolillo, L., Morelli, D., Cincotti, F., Muzzioli,L., Gobbetti, T., Paolucci, S. & Iosa, M.
Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2015 Feb 5.

Link to abstract: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25653079

Objective: In children with cerebral palsy, does video gaming intervention improve upper limb motor movements, hand function (and have more movements) compared to conventional, Bobath-based therapy?

Method: 22 children, 4 to 14 years old, with cerebral palsy (GMFCS levels I – IV) received 16 sessions of conventional therapy before or after 16 sessions of video game therapy, over a period of 8 weeks. QUEST (Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test) was used to assess upper extremity function and Abilhand-kids for hand ability. Instrumentation was applied to the childrens’ forearms to quantify movements.

Findings: Upper limb functioning measured by QUEST improved more with video gaming than with conventional therapy. Manual ability improved better with conventional therapy. Video gaming resulted in more movements than conventional therapy.

Wii Balance Boards: One is as good as another

Measurement study

Interchangeability of the Wii Balance Board for Bipedal Balance Assessment

Bonnechere, B., Jansen, B., Omelina, L., Rooze, M & Van Sint Jan, S.

JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies 2015; 2(2):e8
DOI:10.2196/rehab3832

Link to full text: rehab.jmir.org/2015/2/e8

Objective: How well do different Wii Balance Boards compare with each other, and with laboratory force plate measurements?

Process: Six subjects used four (out of the box, uncalibrated) Wii Balance Boards three times each in order to compare the Wii Balance Boards with each other and a laboratory force plate.

Findings: Balance and posture measurements from Wii Balance Boards did not differ significantly from one to another. The Balance Boards each compare very well to the laboratory force plate. Multi-site studies and use of larger populations can be accessed for research.