Use of a Gaming Platform for Balance Training After a Stroke: A Randomized Trial

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate a personal computer (PC) gaming platform as a means of improving postural balance in stroke patients.

Participants: Stroke patients (N=54) were enrolled and randomly divided into experimental and control groups.

Design: The experimental group underwent 12 weeks of rehabilitation involving playing PC games with the proposed gaming platform, whereas the control group played PC games with a computer mouse in the standing position.

Interventions: The experimental PC gaming platform allowed trunk movements in 3 directions, including lateral, downward, or upward reaching.

Main outcome measures: Balance control was assessed before and after the intervention with the Midot Posture Scale Analyzer (a pressure platform) by measuring the center of pressure during quiet stance. The Berg Balance Scale, Fullerton Advanced Balance Scale, and timed Up and Go tests were used to evaluate functional balance.

Results: Analysis of covariance was used to assess how the PC games improve balance abilities. There were significant differences between the experimental and control groups in the results of sway kinematics and functional balance tests. The experimental group showed greater improvement than the control group.

Conclusion: This new gaming platform with adaptive PC games could be a useful therapy to stroke rehabilitation in patients with postural imbalance.

Keywords: Postural balance; Rehabilitation; Stroke.