The Effectiveness of Training Using Exergaming on Selected Physical and Psychological Parameters in a Population of Patients Over the Age of 65 Belonging to Specific Subgroups of the Frailty Syndrome (FREX)

Wroclaw Medical University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Frailty Syndrome

Treatments: Device: Exergaming Training using Kinect sensor device

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07036224

Frailty Exergaming KB172/2019

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to evaluate the effects of a six-week exergaming-based training program on physical and psychological parameters in individuals aged 65 and older diagnosed with frailty or pre-frailty. Participants engage in supervised exergame sessions twice weekly using the Activlife rehabilitation platform, which combines physical exercises with cognitive tasks in a virtual environment. Outcomes are assessed using validated tools including the Fried Frailty Criteria, CES-D, IPAQ-SF, Katz ADL, Lawton IADL, VES-13, Tinetti Test, and Fullerton Fitness Test. Anthropometric and functional data are collected before and after the intervention.

Full description

Frailty is a clinical syndrome marked by reduced physiological reserve and increased vulnerability to adverse outcomes. Exergaming-interactive video game-based physical activity-offers a novel and potentially effective approach to counteracting physical and cognitive decline in frail older adults. While promising, existing evidence remains limited and methodologically heterogeneous.

This single-center trial investigates the effects of a six-week structured exergame training program on physical performance, functional independence, cognitive function, and mental well-being in a population of individuals aged 65+ with pre-frailty or frailty syndrome according to the Fried criteria.

Participants engage in at least 30-minute exergame-based sessions twice per week using the Activlife rehabilitation platform. The platform combines Kinect-based motion tracking with immersive therapeutic games that include physical (strength, balance, endurance) and cognitive (memory, visuospatial, logic) tasks. Sessions are supervised by a trained therapist, and game difficulty is adapted biweekly to participant capacity.

Assessments are conducted pre- and post-intervention and include: anthropometric data, frailty status (Fried criteria), depression symptoms (CES-D), physical activity (IPAQ-SF), basic and instrumental activities of daily living (Katz ADL, Lawton IADL), vulnerability (VES-13), mobility and balance (Tinetti Test), and physical fitness (Fullerton Fitness Test).

Ethical approval was obtained from the Bioethics Committee of Wroclaw Medical University (approval no. 172/2019). All participants provided written informed consent. The study adheres to the Declaration of Helsinki.

Enrollment: 111 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 65+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• no medical contraindications to performing physical exercises in a standing position

Exclusion criteria

• diagnosed moderate or severe stage of dementia
• the presence of chronic diseases (e.g. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, heart failure, arterial hypertension) that were uncontrolled or in an exacerbation phase

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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111 participants in 1 patient group

Exergaming Training

Other group

Description:

A 6-week standardized training program was carried out with the use of the game rehabilitation platform with Kinect sensor device. The subjects exercised under the supervision of an instructor for at least 30 minutes twice a week.

Treatment:

Device: Exergaming Training using Kinect sensor device