Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Full Title Interactive Computer Game Exercise Regime, Effects on Balance Impairment in Frail Community-Dwelling Older Adults. A Randomized Controlled Trial
Brief Summary: Due to the many problems associated with reduced balance and mobility, providing an effective and engaging rehabilitation regimen is essential to progress recovery from impairments and to help prevent further degradation of motor skills. The purpose was to examine effects of physical therapy based on the task-oriented approach delivered in an engaging, interactive video game paradigm. The intervention focused on performing targeted dynamic tasks, which included reactive balance controls and environmental interaction. Thirty community dwelling and ambulatory older adults attending the Day hospital for balance and mobility limitation treatment participated in this study. Participants were randomly assigned to either a control group or experimental group. The control group received the typical rehabilitation program provided at the Day Hospital, consisting of strengthening and balance exercises. The experimental group received a program of dynamic balance exercises coupled to video game play, using a centre of pressure (COP) position signal as the computer mouse. The tasks were performed while standing on a fixed floor surface with progression to a compliant sponge pad. Each group received 16 sessions, scheduled two per week, each lasting 45 minutes. Balance performance measures and spatial-temporal gait variables were obtained pre- and post-treatment Findings demonstrated significant improvements for both groups in balance performance scores post-treatment, and change scores were significantly greater in the experimental compared to control group. No significant treatment effect was observed in either group for the spatial-temporal gait variables. In conclusion dynamic balance exercises on fixed and compliant sponge surfaces were feasibly coupled to interactive game-based exercise. This in turn resulted in a greater improvement in dynamic standing balance control compared to the typical exercise program. However there was no transfer of effect to gait function.

Key Words: Balance, Postural; Rehabilitation; Therapy, computer-assisted; Video Games; Center of Pressure.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Age above 65 years
* No physical therapy during the previous month
* capable of understanding instructions
* not recovering from acute illness
* minimal loss of visual acuity
* Selfprecived balance (good, average, poor) = average or poor
* No orthopaedic Surgery within the last 6 months
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* age 70 years or older
* living locally in the community (in either sheltered accommodation or own home
* fallen at least once in the preceding 12 months
* abbreviated mental test (AMT) of seven or over

Exclusion Criteria:

* wheelchair bound
* people living in a care home or long-term hospital care.
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* At least one fall in the last 6 months
* Living in their own home or in a home for the aged
* Availability of a primary caregiver caring for the patient at least once a week
* Ability to walk 15 meters independently (use of a walking aid is permitted)
* Life expectancy of more than 6 months, as judged by their geriatrician

Exclusion Criteria:

* Dyads of patients and caregivers in whom outcome assessment is highly unlikely to succeed, for example because they proved not to be able to register falls in the three months before randomization, will be excluded
* MMSE score of less than 15
* On the waiting list for a nursing home
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* age: 65-85 years
* Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score \> 24
* English-speaking with the ability to understand the nature of the study and provide informed consent
* independent in ambulatory functions, with or without an assistive device (cane or walker).

Exclusion Criteria:

* any medical condition or disability that prevented participation in an exercise program.

Answer: D