Systematic review
Interactive computer play as ‘motor therapy’ for individuals with cerebral palsy
Fehlings, D., Switzer, L., Findlay, B. & Knights, S. in Seminars in Pediatic Neurology, 20:127 – 138
Link to abstract: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23948687Objective: To evaluate the quality of evidence for the use of interactive computer games (including video games or virtual reality games) to help motor control and fitness for children with cerebral palsy.
This review covered "any kind of computer game or virtual reality technology where the individual can interact and play with virtual objects in a computer-generated environment". The articles were separated into three groups based on whether the intervention targeted upper extremity, lower extremity or general fitness outcomes.
Process: Literature searching resulted 17 articles that met all the inclusion critera. The American Academy of Neurology Classification of Evidence (AANCE) was used to classify the strength of the articles. Link to document: //qibawiki.rsna.org/images/3/33/American_Academy_of_Neurology_Classification_of_Evidence-20100504.doc
Results: The evidence for use of interactive video games to improve upper extremity function or overall fitness is not ‘statistically conclusive or clinically significant’ – AANCE level U (unproven). The AANCE rating for lower extremity (gross motor) improvements is level B (probably effective). More randomized controlled trials of longer duration with bigger subject sizes will add to the existing evidence.