The Effect of Training with Nintendo Wii Fit Balance Programs on Measures of Balance in Older Women

Researchers have estimated that more than 1/3 of older adults 65 and older fall each year in the U.S. In 2005, 15,800 people 65 years and older died from injuries related to unintentional falls and 1.8 million were treated in emergency departments for nonfatal injuries (CDC, 2007). Exercise programs have been demonstrated to improve balance and reduce the risk of balance-related falls. Recent guidelines have suggested that all older adults participate in balance and mobility training (Nelson et al., 2007). The Nintendo Wii Fit (NWF) has attracted interest as a possible activity option. An important question is whether NWF activities could also improve balance and mobility. The purpose of this study was to determine the acute and chronic effects of regular training with selected components of the NWF Balance Programs on measures of balance and mobility in older women. Ten women between 55 and 79 years of age volunteered for the study. Each trained twice a week for 8 weeks, each session lasting approximately 30 minutes. Baseline measures were taken at the beginning of the program and repeated every 4 weeks for a total of 5 assessments during and after training. These included the Berg Balance Scale, the Timed Up and Go Test, the Functional Reach Test, the Four Square Step Test, and the Activity-Specific Balance Confidence Scale. It is anticipated that significant changes in balance measures will be observed when the training period is complete and data have been analyzed