Game-based Exercises for Dynamic Short-Sitting Balance Rehabilitation of People With Chronic Spinal Cord and Traumatic Brain Injuries

Goal-oriented, task-specific training has been shown to improve function; however, it can be difficult to maintain patient interest. This report describes a rehabilitation protocol for the maintenance of balance in a short-sitting position following spinal cord and head injuries by use of a center-o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical therapy 2007-10, Vol.87 (10), p.1389-1398
Main Authors: Betker, Aimee L, Desai, Ankur, Nett, Cristabel, Kapadia, Naaz, Szturm, Tony
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Brain damage
Brain Injuries - physiopathology
Brain Injuries - rehabilitation
Clinical trials
Computer & video games
Data analysis
Data collection
Exercise
Exercise Therapy - methods
Humans
Lumbar Vertebrae
Male
Medical research
Meningomyelocele - physiopathology
Meningomyelocele - rehabilitation
Middle Aged
Motivation
Nervous system
Observations
Patients
Physical fitness
Physiological aspects
Postural Balance - physiology
Sitting position
Spina bifida
Spinal adjustment
Spinal Cord Injuries - physiopathology
Spinal Cord Injuries - rehabilitation
Sports training
Thoracic Vertebrae
Video Games
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Summary:Goal-oriented, task-specific training has been shown to improve function; however, it can be difficult to maintain patient interest. This report describes a rehabilitation protocol for the maintenance of balance in a short-sitting position following spinal cord and head injuries by use of a center-of-pressure-controlled video game-based tool. The scientific justification for the selected treatment is discussed. Three adults were treated: 1 young adult with spina bifida (T10 and L1-L2), 1 middle-aged adult with complete paraplegia (complete lesion at T11-L1), and 1 middle-aged adult with traumatic brain injury. All patients used wheelchairs full-time. The patients showed increased motivation to perform the game-based exercises and increased dynamic short-sitting balance. The patients exhibited increases in practice volume and attention span during training with the game-based tool. In addition, they demonstrated substantial improvements in dynamic balance control. These observations indicate that a video game-based exercise approach can have a substantial positive effect by improving dynamic short-sitting balance.
ISSN:0031-9023
1538-6724
DOI:10.2522/ptj.20060229