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Bacha J.M.R.1, Gasparin J.2, Freitas T.B.3, Torriani-Pasin C.3, Greve J.M.D.4, Pompeu J.E.1
1Universidade de São Paulo - Faculdade de Medicina, Fisioterapia, Fonoaudiologia e Terapia Ocupacional, São Paulo, Brazil, 2Universidade de São Paulo - Instituto de Psicologia, Neurociências e Comportamento, SBC, Brazil, 3Universidade de São Paulo, Escola de Educação Física e Esporte, São Paulo, Brazil, 4Universidade de Sao Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, São Paulo, Brazil
Background: Aging process causes the decline of different body system that can culminate with functional incapacity. However, most of elderly are independent an autonomous despite aging. Active aging has been purposed by World Health Organization in order to decrease the functional decline in elderly people. Among different strategies to decrease the functional decline, the benefit of physical activity has strong evidence that it can be helpful to the functional health elderly people. New strategies that promote simultaneous motor cognitive stimulation have been studied recently, among them, the virtual reality through the new generation of video games.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of Kinect Adventures games compared to a conventional balance training, on postural control, gait and cognition of community dwelling elderly people.
Methods: This is randomized clinical trial in which 46 elderlies, mean age 69.33 (5.34) were selected. Participants were randomized into control group (CG) and experimental group (EG), 23 in each one. The participants underwent 14 training sessions of one hour, twice a week. CG performed a conventional balance training composed by warming up, balance training, aerobic exercises, muscular strengthening and cool-down. EG played four Kinect Adventures games. Participants were assessed before (pre), after (post) and 30 days after the training (follow up). Postural control was assessed by the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini BESTest), gait by the Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) and cognition by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The Study was registered in the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (RBR-4z4f48). Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA of repeated measures and the post hoc test of Tukey, adopting alfa of 0.05.
Results: Both groups showed improvement on Mini BESTest, FGA and MoCA after training without difference between groups (ANOVA; P 0.05). There was maintenance of results after 30 days (follow-up). Mean difference (95% confidence interval) of EG and CG, pre and post assessment of Mini BESTest were 2.2 (2.3 to 4.2) and 3.1 (2.4 to 4.5), respectively; FGA were 1.9 (1.8 to 3.3) and 1.5 (1.8 to 3.8), respectively, and MoCA were 2.6 (3.3 to 6.0) and 2.9 (2.5 to 4.6), respectively.
Conclusion(s): Intervention based on Kinect Adventures games training and the conventional balance training promoted improvement of postural control, gait and cognition of community dwelling elderly people.
Implications: Kinect Adventures games can be used as a new tool to improve postural control, gait and cognition of elderly people besides the conventional balance training.
Funding acknowledgements: No funding.
Topic: Older people
Ethics approval: Ethics Committee: of the Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo (45547415.8.0000.0065).
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
