Sensorimotor training as active video game?

Functional Testing of the Nintendo Wii-Fit Balance Board compared with a sensorimotor training

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to compare functional adaptations of postural stability and strength capacity between a sensorimotor training and the Nintendo Balance-Board training

Description

The effects of sensorimotor training (SMT) are well documented in the prevention and rehabilitation of injuries. The Balance-Board training of Nintendo Wii-Fit would like to be used as a sensorimotor sports training device as well. Although both training-devices focus on comparable training-adaptations, a comparison of the effects was not investigated yet. The purpose of the study was to compare functional adaptations of postural stability and strength capacity.

29 untrained, healthy subjects were randomly assigned to the Wii fit-group or the SMT-group. Both groups practised a training 3x per week for 45 min over 6 weeks. The Wii-fit-group practised the balance-games on the balance-board, whereby the SMT-group performed an ordinary sensorimotor training on wobbling boards; spinning tops and soft mats. Parameters of postural stability, rate of force development (RFD) and the maximum voluntary isometric strength (MVC) were assessed by testing both groups prior as well as after 6 weeks of training.

The results show a significant reduction of the sway path in a 40 sec. one leg-standing in anterior-posterior and medio-lateral direction on Posturomed® for both groups. The sway-path after a medio-lateral perturbation showed a larger reduction for the SMT-group compared with Wii-fit-group. The results showed that balance-training on the Wii-Fit Balance-Board improves postural stability as effectively as a SMT in unpertubated situations. The ability to compensate external perturbations seems to be trained primarily in SMT-exercises. The previously in literature described relationship between the improvement in postural balance and RFD, reflecting the ability to generate high muscular strength in short time, wasn’t shown for the any group in this investigation.

In conclusion Balance-Training on the Wii-Fit Balance-Board lead to comparable functional adaptations as with SMT but the degree and the extend of functional effects are less pronounced.

Involved people

Katrin Röttger (geb. Korsten); Guillaume Mornieux; Albert Gollhofer

Partners

Nintendo of Europe GmbH
Nintendo Center
63760 Großostheim