Effectiveness of an Intervention to Improve Balance and Decrease Falls in the Elderly (EWii)

Fundacio d'Investigacio en Atencio Primaria Jordi Gol i Gurina

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention Studies

Postural Balance

Accidental Falls

Treatments

Other: balance training

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT02570178

PI12/01677

Details and patient eligibility

About

The objectives of this study are to evaluate the usefulness of an intervention utilizing the NintendoTM Wii console in order to improve balance, thereby decreasing both the fear of falling as well as the number of falls, and to evaluate the correlation between balance as determined by the console and the value obtained in the Tinetti tests and the one foot stationary test.

Full description

Balance alteration is a risk factor for falls in elderly individuals that has physical, psychological and economic consequences. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the usefulness of an intervention utilizing the NintendoTM Wii console in order to improve balance, thereby decreasing both the fear of falling as well as the number of falls, and to evaluate the correlation between balance as determined by the console and the value obtained in the Tinetti tests and the one foot stationary test.

Methods/Design: This is a controlled, randomized clinical trial of individual assignment, carried out on patients over 70 years in age, from five primary care centers in the city of Mataró (Barcelona). 380 patients were necessary for the intervention group that carried out the balance board exercises in 2 sessions per week for a 3 month period, and 380 patients in the control group who carried out their usual habits. Balance was evaluated using the Tinetti test, the one foot stationary test and with the console, at the start of the study, at the end of the intervention (3 months) and one year later. Quarterly telephone follow-up was also conducted to keep track of falls and their consequences.

Discussion: The study aimed to connect the community with a technology that may be an easy and fun way to assist the elderly in improving their balance without the need to leave home or join rehabilitation groups, offering greater comfort for this population and decreasing healthcare costs since there is no need for specialized personnel.

Enrollment

1,037 patients

Sex

All

Ages

70+ years old

Volunteers

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Individuals aged 70 or older, of both genders,
with the ability to walk, with or without technical assistance
who are available for a one year period and who agree to participate in the study, signing an informed consent form

Exclusion criteria

Home-bound patients
individuals who are already receiving rehabilitation treatment on walking
those with moderate cognitive deterioration (Pfeiffer ≥5)
terminally ill patients
individuals who do not have a telephone
those with communication difficulties: cognitive and/or sensory deterioration, language barriers