Clinical trial NCT01007643: Use of Wii Fit (TM) to Increase Compliance With Home Exercises in Treating Patellofemoral Syndrome
Official title: The Use of Wii Fit ™ to Increase Compliance With Home Exercises for Treatment of Patellofemoral Syndrome in Adolescent Females
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: TERMINATED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Patellofemoral Syndrome
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
Anterior Knee Pain Syndrome
Keywords: anterior knee pain
adolescents
female
interactive video games
patellofemoral syndrome
treatment
compliance
home exercises
Lead sponsor: University of Manitoba
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2009-11-04
Enrollment: 22
Sex: FEMALE
Minimum age (years): 11
Maximum age (years): 17
Standard ages: CHILD
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: To determine the utility of the Wii Fit TM interactive video game program in patellofemoral symptom resolution, development of increased muscle strength and flexibility as a result of increased compliance with home exercises in adolescent females with patellofemoral syndrome.

Detailed description: Patellofemoral syndrome (PFS) is a very common diagnosis amongst adolescents and young adults. Symptoms can be chronic in nature and interfere with sporting activity and activities of daily living. Current treatment consists of home exercises to increase muscular strength and flexibility. Adolescents are known to have poor compliance with treatments for chronic illnesses.

There is a paucity of published literature surrounding the Wii TM Interactive Video Game. There has been one published report of the use of Wii Fit TM in rehabilitation where participants used the Wii Fit TM to train proprioception after ankle injury. Individuals that participated in the Wii Fit TM group found improvement in their balance on objective measures as well as increased enjoyment with their treatment plan. One anecdotal report used the Wii TM video game in physiotherapy treatments of a college athlete and found a dramatic increase in attendance compliance after introduction of the video game.

This randomized controlled study will determine if using the Wii Fit TM for home exercise completion will increase compliance and subsequently improve symptoms related to patellofemoral syndrome in adolescent females.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Female between ages of 11 and 17 years of age
* A diagnosis of patellofemoral syndrome with one or more of the following symptoms: anterior knee pain, positive theater sign, stairs provoking knee pain.
* No physiotherapy or regular, structured home exercise program is being followed
* Parental/guardian consent to participate
* Patient assent to participate

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients participating in physiotherapy at the time of initial assessment or have had physiotherapy in the last 6 months for patellofemoral syndrome
* Patients performing regular home exercise program prescribed by physician, physiotherapist, or other allied health professional for patellofemoral syndrome at time of initial assessment
* Patients who have additional knee pathology (e.g. acute patellar dislocation; acute internal knee derangement (i.e. meniscal, ligament injury); osteochondritis dissecans; severe apophysitis or tendinitis) that could interfere with rehabilitation exercises due to pain or instability from these conditions
* Individuals with history of knee surgery
* Individuals that have a Wii Fit TM video game at home
* Individuals for whom consent and assent is not obtained

Primary outcomes:
measure: Percentage of Exercise Days Completed.
timeFrame: 3 months
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Changes in Patellofemoral Symptoms
timeFrame: 3 months
measure: Change in Hamstring Flexibility
timeFrame: 3 months
measure: Change in Quadriceps Flexibility
timeFrame: 3 months
measure: Change in Vastus Medialis Oblique Muscle Strength
timeFrame: 3 months
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Winnipeg
country: Canada
facility: Legacy Sport Medicine
state: Manitoba
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Manitoba
name: Erika B Persson, MD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: