All articles showed improvement in outcomes with AVG , although differences were not consistently significant compared with conventional therapy .
However , AVG is feasible and shows potential for improving outcomes in this population .
AIM To examine current evidence on use of active video gaming ( AVG ) to improve motor function in children with movement disorders including cerebral palsy , developmental coordination disorder , and Down syndrome .
Effectiveness of a low-cost virtual reality system for children with developmental delay: a preliminary randomised single-blind controlled trial.
OBJECTIVES Physical and occupational therapists have started to use the Nintendo Wii ™ gaming system with adults and children as part of their regular treatment . Despite the growing use of the Wii and trend towards evidence -based practice , limited evidence is available on the effectiveness of virtual reality using the Wii for children with developmental delay . The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a low-cost gaming system for young children with developmental delay . STUDY DESIGN Single-blind , r and omised controlled trial . PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING Forty children with developmental delay ( age 39 to 58 months ) who attended a segregated or integrated preschool participated in this study . All children 's parents read and signed an informed consent form approved by the institutional review board . Children were assigned at r and om to an experimental ( Wii ) group ( n=20 ) or a control group ( n=20 ) . INTERVENTION Two weekly sessions for 10 weeks using Nintendo Wii Sports ™ and Nintendo Wii Fit ™ , including balance , strength training and aerobics games . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Participants were evaluated 1 week before and 1 week after the programme by a blinded investigator . Primary outcomes were gait speed , timed up and go test , single leg stance test , five-times-sit-to-st and test , timed up and down stairs test , 2-minute walk test and grip strength . The Gross Motor Function Measure ( GMFM ) was used to assess gross motor skills . RESULTS The two groups were homogenous regarding all parameters at baseline . The Wii training was feasible and enjoyable for those in the experimental group . There were no adverse effects or injuries reported over 267 training sessions . Comparison of groups following the intervention indicated that the experimental group showed significant improvements compared with the control group in single leg stance test { mean difference 1.03 [ st and ard deviation ( SD ) 1.7 ] , 95 % confidence interval ( CI ) 0.2 to 1.9 ; P=0.017 } , right grip strength [ mean difference 1.11 ( SD 1.84 ) , 95 % CI 0.15 to 2.06 ; P=0.024 ] and left grip strength [ mean difference 0.90 ( SD 1.67 ) , 95 % CI 0.03 to 1.77 ; P=0.043 ] . Although changes in other outcome measures were not significant between the study groups , there were trends towards greater improvements in the experimental group compared with the control group . CONCLUSION This study supports use of the Wii as a feasible , safe and potentially effective therapeutic tool to augment the rehabilitation of young children with developmental delay . The potential application of the Wii to increase the intensity of therapy or as a rehabilitation tool in children 's homes and rural setting s is an area worthy of investigation . The promising results of this study suggest that further studies are warranted to vali date the potential benefits of a low-cost commercially available gaming system as a treatment strategy to supplement rehabilitation of children with disabilities
All articles showed improvement in outcomes with AVG , although differences were not consistently significant compared with conventional therapy .
However , AVG is feasible and shows potential for improving outcomes in this population .
AIM To examine current evidence on use of active video gaming ( AVG ) to improve motor function in children with movement disorders including cerebral palsy , developmental coordination disorder , and Down syndrome .