Use of Wii™ with older adults: A potential new recreational therapy intervention to increase physical activity

2010 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 33-39
Author(s):  
Hyangmi Kim, BS ◽  
Marieke Van Puymbroeck, PhD, CTRS

Because of increases in life expectancy, there is a greater focus on enhancing and maintaining quality of life for older adults. One method to improve quality of life is to increase everyday physical activity, and a new approach to this is through virtual reality video games such as the Nintendo Wii™. This is a new tool for recreational therapists to use, and preliminary evidence from several trials supports the claim that Wii™ intervention is beneficial. This article will review the benefits of physical activity for older adults, the obstacles keeping older adults from physical activity, the framework of physical activity according to self-efficacy theory and principles, and will apply the self-efficacy theory to examine the Wii™ as an assistive tool for use as physical activity, as well as the resulting implications for recreational therapy practice and research.

2006 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward McAuley ◽  
James F. Konopack ◽  
Robert W. Motl ◽  
Katherine S. Morris ◽  
Shawna E. Doerksen ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ing-Mari Dohrn ◽  
Maria Hagströmer ◽  
Mai-Lis Hellénius ◽  
Agneta Ståhle

Aim:To describe objectively-measured physical activity levels and patterns among community-dwelling older adults with osteoporosis, impaired balance, and fear of falling, and to explore the associations with gait, balance performance, falls self-efficacy, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).Methods:Ninety-four individuals (75.6 ± 5.4 years) were included. Physical activity was assessed with pedometers and accelerometers. Mean steps/day, dichotomized into < 5,000 or = 5,000 steps/day, and time spent in different physical activity intensities were analyzed. Gait was assessed with a GAITRite walkway, balance performance was assessed with the modified figure-eight test and oneleg stance, falls self-efficacy was assessed with the Falls Efficacy Scale International, and HRQoL was assessed with Short Form-36.Results:Mean steps/day were 6,201 (991–17,156) and 40% reported < 5,000 steps/day. Participants with < 5,000 steps/day spent more time sedentary, had slower gait speed, poorer balance performance, and lower HRQoL than participants with ≥ 5,000 steps/day. No participants with < 5,000 met the recommended level of physical activity.


2012 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 262-267
Author(s):  
J. Mudrák ◽  
P. Slepička ◽  
S. Elavsky

2015 ◽  
Vol 41 (12) ◽  
pp. 21-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela G. Bowen ◽  
Olivio J. Clay ◽  
Loretta T. Lee ◽  
Jason Vice ◽  
Fernando Ovalle ◽  
...  

2012 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 1647-1654 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siobhan M. Phillips ◽  
Thomas R. Wójcicki ◽  
Edward McAuley

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wojtek J. Chodzko-Zajko

For more than half a century fellows of the National Academy of Kinesiology have enthusiastically advocated for the promotion and adoption of physically active lifestyles as an affordable and effective means to prevent chronic diseases and conditions, and enhance independence and high quality of life for older adults. It is possible to discern distinct evolutionary stages when examining scholarship related to the role of physical activity in the promotion of healthy aging. Research into physical activity and aging began with critical early studies that established the underlying scientific evidence for a relationship between physical activity and healthy aging. More recent work has addressed such topics as building consumer demand, developing policies and legislation to support active aging, and understanding the complex interrelationships between physical activity and other lifestyle factors in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases and conditions. It is increasingly apparent that strategies to promote active and successful aging must be integrated into an effective public policy. Kinesiologists and other health professionals, working in collaboration with colleagues from other disciplines, can help to reduce risk factors for chronic disease and improve quality of life for older adults by building awareness of the importance of physical activity and by assisting with the development and implementation of appropriate and effective interventions that reduce risk factors and improve quality of life.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Otones ◽  
Eva García ◽  
Teresa Sanz ◽  
Azucena Pedraz

Abstract Background Exercise have shown being effective for managing chronic pain and preventing frailty status in older adults but the effect of an exercise program in the quality of life of pre-frail older adults with chronic pain remains unclear. Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of multicomponent structured physical exercise program for pre-frail adults aged 65 years or more with chronic pain to improve their perceived health related quality of life, compared with usual care. Methods Open label randomized controlled trial. Participants were community-dwelling pre-frail older adults aged 65 years or older with chronic pain and non-dependent for basic activities of daily living attending a Primary Healthcare Centre. Forty-four participants were randomly allocated to a control group (n = 20) that received usual care or an intervention group (n = 24) that received an 8-week physical activity and education program. Frailty status (SHARE Frailty Index), quality of life (EuroQol-5D-5L), pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale), physical performance (Short Physical Performance Battery) and depression (Yessavage) were assessed at baseline, after the intervention and after 3 months follow-up. The effect of the intervention was analysed by mean differences between the intervention and control groups. Results The follow-up period (3 months) was completed by 32 patients (73%), 17 in the control group and 15 in the intervention group. Most participants were women (78.1%) with a mean age (standard deviation) of 77.2 (5.9) years and a mean pain intensity of 48.1 (24.4) mm. No relevant differences were found between groups at baseline. After the intervention, mean differences in the EuroQol Index Value between control and intervention groups were significant (-0.19 95%CI(-0.33- -0.04)) and remained after three months follow-up (-0.21 95%CI(-0.37- -0.05)). Participants in the exercise group showed better results in pain intensity and frailty after the intervention, and an improvement in physical performance after the intervention and after three months. Conclusions An eight-week physical activity and education program for pre-frail older adults with chronic pain, compared with usual care, could be effective to improve quality of life after the intervention and after three-months follow-up. Study registration details: This study was retrospectively registered in ClinicalTrials.gov with the identifier NCT04045535.


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