1. P-048
Hospital based balance training using the Wii Balance Board: a randomized controlled study in multiple sclerosis
Johanna Jonsdottir, Rita Bertoni, Cristina Grosso, Angelo Montesano, Davide Cattaneo
Fondazione Don Gnocchi ONLUS. IRCCS.
The aim of this study was to verify the effectiveness of the Wii balance board combined with virtual reality exergames in rehabilitation of balance and confront it with a usual care balance treatment in recovered persons with multiple sclerosis (MS)1, 2 .
Methods: Twenty two persons with MS, were randomly assigned to balance training utilizing the Wii Balance board with exergames or usual care balance rehabilitation (mean age 49,3 years (SD 7,12), EDSS 3,5-6,5, onset 12,2 yrs, 6 males, Relapse remitting 16/Secondary progressive 6 ): sessions of 40 minutes each. The Wii intervention included low intensity aerobic exercise followed by balance specific exergames available from the Wii balance board system. Clinical tests of balance (Berg Balance Scale (BBS), primary outcome), gait velocity and resistance (Timed 10 meter walk, 2 minute walk), questionnaires SF-12 and Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) for perception of health and fatigue, and stabilometric platform measures of sway were performed pre and post intervention.
Table 1. Clinical tests
Figure 1. Stabilometric measures
Scales
Cont Pre
N=10
Cont Post
Wii Pre
N=12
Wii Post
BBS
46,7
48,8
50,1
52,2
10 meter walk
9,7 sec
8,8
9,6
7,6*
2 min walk
96,2 mt
102,1
121,4
127,5
SF-12 Phys
35,7
35,4
36,4
SF-12 Mental
45,8
49,3
46,5
53,9*
Fatigue (MFIS)
32,2
32,9
37,2
23,5*
Results: Following intervention there were no significant differences in changes between groups in balance nor mobility measures (Table 1).
Wii treatment: a relevant (>10%, P< 0.05) improvement in mediolateral (ML) sway with no concomitant increase in velocity of sway and a relevant improvement in gait velocity, fatigue and perception of mental health.
* Wilcoxon test intragroup, P<0.05
Conclusion:The effectiveness of the two interventions were similar in improving balance in persons with MS suggesting that both may be appropriate for recovered patients. There was an improvement in postural control following the Wii protocol and a reduction of sense of fatigue that indicate a further benefit of a virtual reality on balance. These results further indicate that following dismissal from a rehabilitation center the use of the Wii balance board might be useful for maintaining or improving balance control and mobility in persons with MS although this remains to be further investigated and verified.
1Nilsagaard et al: Balance exercise for persons with multiple sclerosis using Wii games: a randomised, controlled multi-centre study. Mult Scler 2013, 19(2):
2Prosperini L, : Home-based balance training using the Wii balance board: a randomized, crossover pilot study in multiple sclerosis. Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2013, 27(6):

2. e-Poster number