Title:Wii-Workouts on Chronic Pain, Physical Capabilities and Mood of Older Women: A Randomized Controlled Double Blind Trial
Volume: 14
Issue: 9
Author(s): Renato Sobral Monteiro-Junior, Cíntia Pereira de Souza, Eduardo Lattari, Nuno Barbosa F. Rocha, Gioia Mura, Sérgio Machado and Elirez Bezerra da Silva
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Aging, lumbago, video games, mood disorders, exergames, rehabilitation.
Abstract: Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP) is a public health problem and older women have higher incidence of this
symptom, which affect body balance, functional capacity and behavior. The purpose of this study was to verifying the
effect of exercises with Nintendo Wii on CLBP, functional capacity and mood of elderly. Thirty older women (68 ± 4
years; 68 ± 12 kg; 154 ± 5 cm) with CLBP participated in this study. Elderly individuals were divided into a Control
Exercise Group (n = 14) and an Experimental Wii Group (n = 16). Control Exercise Group did strength exercises and core
training, while Experimental Wii Group did ones additionally to exercises with Wii. CLBP, balance, functional capacity
and mood were assessed pre and post training by the numeric pain scale, Wii Balance Board, sit to stand test and Profile
of Mood States, respectively. Training lasted eight weeks and sessions were performed three times weekly. MANOVA 2 x
2 showed no interaction on pain, siting, stand-up and mood (P = 0.53). However, there was significant difference within
groups (P = 0.0001). ANOVA 2 x 2 showed no interaction for each variable (P > 0.05). However, there were significant
differences within groups in these variables (P < 0.05). Tukey’s post-hoc test showed significant difference in pain on
both groups (P = 0.0001). Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests identified no significant differences on balance (P > 0.01).
Capacity to Sit improved only in Experimental Wii Group (P = 0.04). In conclusion, physical exercises with Nintendo Wii
Fit Plus additional to strength and core training were effective only for sitting capacity, but effect size was small.