Could video game-based physical rehabilitation substitute for conventional physiotherapy in patients with glioma? A proof-of-concept study

• Published in: Supportive care in cancer 2025-01, Vol.33 (1), p.52, Article 52
• Main Authors: Sakamoto, Hayato, Tashiro, Syoichi, Takebayashi, Mayuko, Matsuda, Kyohei, Saito, Kuniaki, Kobayashi, Keiichi, Nagane, Motoo, Shiokawa, Yoshiaki, Nakatomi, Hirofumi, Yamada, Shin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Brain cancer; Brain Neoplasms - rehabilitation; Computer & video games; Exercise Therapy - methods; Feasibility Studies; Female; Glioma; Glioma - rehabilitation; Humans; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Nursing; Nursing Research; Oncology; Pain Medicine; Physical therapy; Physical Therapy Modalities; Proof of Concept Study; Rehabilitation; Rehabilitation Medicine; Video Games
• ISSN: 0941-4355; 1433-7339; 1433-7339
• DOI: 10.1007/s00520-024-09111-z

Purpose The present study investigated the clinical feasibility of replacing a part of conventional physiotherapy (PT) with Nintendo Wii® for the recovery of motor function and activities of daily living (ADL) in patients with glioma. Methods This study included 10 patients with first-episode gliomas who were admitted to the neurosurgery department of a tertiary hospital. According to the patients’ preferences, they were allocated to conventional PT or Wii® rehabilitation groups in which a part of the conventional PT sessions were replaced with Wii® training. The Fugl–Meyer Assessment (FMA), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) measures were compared between the treatment groups using the Mann–Whitney U test. Results The Wii® rehabilitation and conventional PT groups included four (age 39 [26–53] years, n  = 2 each WHO grade III and IV) and six patients (age 72 [59–80] years; all WHO grade IV), respectively. No patient dropouts were observed. The beneficial changes did not differ significantly between the conventional PT and Wii® groups (FMA: 1.0 vs. 1.5, SPPB: − 1.0 vs. − 0.5, FIM: − 2.5 vs. 2.5, HAD: 6 vs. 0). No adverse events such as falls were observed in either treatment group. Conclusion Wii® rehabilitation had comparable effects with conventional PT for the inpatient rehabilitation of patients with glioma, with no adverse effects. Wii® rehabilitation showed potential as a home-based training modality because no physical assistance was required. Further investigation will be required because of the selection bias as a non-randomized trial. Implications for cancer survivors Exergame Wii® could be an effective rehabilitation tool for brain tumor patients.