Design: Cross-sectional study
Evaluating exercise intensity levels in children with cerebral palsy playing the Wii
Robert, M., Ballaz, L., Hart, R & Lemay, M,
Physical Therapy, Early online, April 11, 2013 DOI: 10.2.2522/ptj.20120204
Link to abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23580626
Objective: Measuring the difference in exercise intensity of children with cerebral palsy compared with typically developing children playing the Wii Fit.
Method: Ten 7-to-12 year old children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (GMFCS I or II) were matched with 10 typically developing children. All children played one session of four Wii Fit (lower-extremity focused) games of 10 minutes duration. Heart rate was measured and exercise intensity was measured as percent of heart rate reserve.
Results: No difference was observed between groups for time spent at an intensity of > 40% of heart rate reserve across all games.