1. Evaluating the Nintendo Wii for Assessing Return to Activity Readiness in Youth with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.
- Author
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DeMatteo, Carol, Greenspoon, Dayna, Levac, Danielle, Harper, Jessica A., and Rubinoff, Mandy
- Subjects
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EXERCISE , *ANALYSIS of variance , *CHILDREN'S health , *ENERGY metabolism , *POSTURAL balance , *EXERCISE physiology , *HEART rate monitoring , *NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL tests , *OCCUPATIONAL therapy for children , *REGRESSION analysis , *RESEARCH funding , *RESPIRATORY measurements , *STATISTICAL sampling , *STATISTICS , *ADOLESCENT health , *VIDEO games , *DECISION making in clinical medicine , *PILOT projects , *INTER-observer reliability , *REPEATED measures design , *REHABILITATION of children with disabilities , *CROSS-sectional method , *RESEARCH methodology evaluation , *REHABILITATION for brain injury patients , *PHYSICAL activity , *DATA analysis software , *PATIENTS' attitudes , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *EXERCISE tolerance , *ADOLESCENCE ,RESEARCH evaluation - Abstract
Adolescents with mild traumatic brain injuries (MTBI) are at substantial risk for repeat injury if they return to activity too soon. Post-concussion symptoms and impaired balance are two factors that limit return to activity. Post-injury assessments that challenge activity tolerance and balance skills are needed to ensure readiness to return to activity. This cross-sectional study evaluated the Nintendo Wii as a measure of exertion (heart rate [HR], respiration rate [RR], and caloric expenditure) and balance testing for youth with MTBI in a clinical setting. Twenty-four youth with MTBI, ages 9-18, played six Wii games. The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency 2nd edition (BOT-2) and the Community Balance and Mobility Scale (CBM) were used as balance indicators. The Wii Fit Running game demonstrated the highest caloric expenditure and HR ( p = .010). Frequency counts of balance loss during Wii game play did not correlate with performance on the BOT-2 or the CBM. Type, number, and time since injury were predictive of balance performance on the CBM ( p = .008). Findings provide preliminary evidence for the use of the Wii as an exertion challenge to evaluate tolerance for exercise post-concussion. Frequency count of balance loss during Wii game play, however, was not a valid measure of balance impairment post-MTBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2014
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