The Effects of the Wii Fit Balance Games on Static and Dynamic Balance of 9-11 Year Old Boys with Developmental Coordination Disorder Sarah Krasniuk, Jenna MacLeod, Stuart Matthews, Jamila Twahir, Jane Taylor

Introduction Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) Balance Intervention

Wii Fit Intervention  Purpose of the Wii Fit is to improve balance, strength, flexibility, fitness, and general well-being (Nitz, Kuys, Isles, & Fu, 2009)  Improves balance in persons compromised by stroke (Brown, Sugarman, & Burstin, 2009; & Deutsch, Robbins, Morrison, & Bowlby, 2009)

An Approach to Improving Balance using a Virtual Reality Intervention  9 sessions, 2 sessions/week

Purpose Statement  To investigate the effect of 9 sessions of Wii Fit Balance training on static and dynamic balance of three boys with DCD aged 9-11 years.

Method Testing Protocol MABCForce Plate Intervention: Balance training 9 sessions Testing Protocol MABC Force Plate Procedure Participant 1Participant 2Participant 3

Wii Fit Balance Training

Data Analysis Pre- and post-intervention Intervention measures measures measures AMTI force plate protocol MABCSingle subject design -Sway area - AP sway - ML sway - path length - possible anterior sway (PAS) - possible posterior sway (PPS) - Total balance score (TBS) -Scoring 2 or 3 stars (depending on game) - for 3/5 trials - 2 sessions in a row - continue playing the same games

Results Single Subject Participant 3 performing Soccer Header and Penguin Slide

Force plate: Participant 3 Pre-intervention balance space task Post-intervention balance space task

PAS & PPS for dynamic balance Post-intervention increases in sway were measured with percent gains in balance space task:  Anterior sway: 8.43%  Posterior sway: 262%

Discussion Wii Fit Balance Training  Increased level, trend, and implied reaction and movement time Force Plate  Increased sway in static balance tasks  increased tolerance of sway  Largest gain  participant 1 (262%) in posterior sway

MABC ParticipantPre-intervention TBS Post- intervention TBS 1<5%>15% 2 35%5%<5%  Participant 3 made highest level of improvement with the Wii Fit, but obtained a worse TBS score post-intervention  Suggests that the Wii Fit is more of a motivational tool than the static and dynamic balance tests of the MABC

Conclusion  Motivator to practice balance games to:  React more quickly,  Develop balance and problem-solving strategies  Participants 2 and 3 were so engaged they purchased a Wii Fit  Potential for balance training  More research needed

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