An exploratory study on the effects of Nintendo Wii® Fit Balance Board on balance retraining and body mass index of adolescents with a traumatic brain injury

Authors

  • Jessica K. Conyers, MS, CTRS
  • Marjorie J. Malkin, EdD, CTRS
  • Heewon Yang, PhD, CTRS

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/ajrt.2011.0012

Keywords:

balance training, body mass index, brain injury, Wii Fit®

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the Nintendo Wii Fit Balance Board® on balance of two adolescent females with a traumatic brain injury and on their body mass index (BMI). The participants attended a balance retraining program, with three sessions a week for 30 minutes for four consecutive weeks. The balance of the participants was measured both by recording raw game scores on the Nintendo Wii Fit games each session and by the use of the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), which was administered pretest and post-test. The BMI was also determined by using the Nintendo Wii Fit Balance Board. Both participants showed improved balance game scores during the Wii Fit sessions. However, for both participants, there were no significant differences on the BBS and on their BMI.

Author Biographies

Jessica K. Conyers, MS, CTRS

Department of Health Education and Recreation, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois.

Marjorie J. Malkin, EdD, CTRS

Professor, Department of Health Education and Recreation, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois.

Heewon Yang, PhD, CTRS

Associate Professor, Department of Health Education and Recreation, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois.

References

Miller J: Wii speeds up the rehab process. Available at www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2007-07-24-wi i-therapy_N.htm. Accessed April 24, 2009.

Jochem L: Using Nintendo Wii in therapy. Center for Disabilities and Development. Available at www.uihealthcare.com/cdd. Accessed April 5, 2008.

Drexler K: Case history: Use of the Nintendo Wii to increase fine motor dexterity post cerebral vascular accident. Am J Recreational Ther. 2009; 8(3): 41-46.

Lips BW: Understanding brain injury: A guide for the family. Available at http://mayoresearch.mayo.edu/mayo/research/tbims/upload/ubi_families.pdf. Accessed April 1, 2009.

Burns J, Hauser W: The epidemiology of traumatic brain injury: A review. Epilepsia. 2003; 44(10): 2-10.

Maxwell BE: Hostility, depression, and self-esteem among troubled and homeless adolescents in crisis. J Youth Adolesc. 1992; 21(2): 139-150.

Mobily K, McNeil RD: Therapeutic Recreation and the Nature of Disabilities. State College, PA: Venture Publishing, Inc., 2002.

Basford J, Chou L, Kaufman K, et al.: An assessment of gait and balance deficits after traumatic brain injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2003; 84: 343-349.

Ogden CL, Flegal KM, Carroll MD, et al.: Prevalence and trends in overweight among US children and adolescents, 1999-2000. JAMA. 2002; 288: 1728-1732.

Dietz WH: Overweight in childhood and adolescence. N Engl J Med. 2004; 350: 855-857.

Patradoon-Ho P, Scheinberg A, Baur L: Obesity in children and adolescents with acquired brain injury. Pediatr Rehabil. 2005; 8(4): 303-308.

Betker A, Desai A, Nett C, et al.: Game-based exercises for dynamic short-sitting balance rehabilitation of people with chronic spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries. Phys Ther J. 2007; 87: 1389-1398.

Wii Fit Plus: What is Wii Fit Plus? Available at http://www.nintendo.com/wiifit. Accessed August 3, 2010.

Berg K, Wood-Dauphinee S, Williams JI, et al.: Measuring balance in the elderly: Validation of an instrument. Can J Public Health. 1992; 2: 7-11.

Qutubuddin AA, Pegg PO, Cifu DX, et al.: Validating the Berg Balance Scale for patients with Parkinson’s disease: A key to rehabilitation evaluation. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2005; 86: 789-792.

Conradsson M, Lundin-Olsson L, Lindelof N, et al.: Berg Balance Scale: Intrarater test-retest reliability among older people dependent in activities of daily living and living in residential care facilities. Phys Ther. 2007; 87(9): 1155-1163.

Published

04/01/2011

How to Cite

Conyers, MS, CTRS, J. K., Malkin, EdD, CTRS, M. J., & Yang, PhD, CTRS, H. (2011). An exploratory study on the effects of Nintendo Wii® Fit Balance Board on balance retraining and body mass index of adolescents with a traumatic brain injury. American Journal of Recreation Therapy, 10(2), 38–48. https://doi.org/10.5055/ajrt.2011.0012

Issue

Section

Articles

Most read articles by the same author(s)