Use of Game Console for Rehabilitation of Parkinson's Disease.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease (PD) predisposes to falls due to postural instability and decreased coordination. Postural and coordination exercises could ameliorate the incoordination and decrease falls. AIMS: In this study, we explored the efficiency of a game console as an adjunct to an exercise program in treating incoordination in patients with PD. STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study. METHODS: In this single-blind, prospective clinical trial, rehabilitation with the Xbox (Microsoft; Washington, USA) game console was used as an adjunct to a standard rehabilitation program. Thirty-three patients with PD at stages 1-3 were enrolled in the study. All patients received the three-times weekly exercise program and electrotherapy to back and hip extensors for 5 weeks. Study patients played catch the ball and obstacle games on the Xbox in addition to the standard exercise program. Patients were evaluated based on the scores from the Timed Up-and-Go Test, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale-II (UPDRS-II). Post-treatment scores were compared between groups. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients were enrolled in the study (15 in the game-console group, and 18 controls). Patients in both groups had improvements in all scores. The end-of-treatment scores were significantly better in the study group compared to the control group in all parameters UPDRS (10±5 versus 16±6, p=0.002), BBS (53±4 versus 47±8, p=0.004), and TUG (11±4 seconds versus 20±8 seconds, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Game-exercise with a game-console was noted to be a significant adjunct to the rehabilitation program in patients with PD in this study.