Wii Fit as Balance Assessment and Training

Context: An estimated 300 000 sport-related concussion injuries occur in the United States annually. Approximately 30% of individuals with concussions experience balance disturbances. Common methods of balance assessment include the Clinical Test of Sensory Organization and Balance (CTSIB), the Sensory Organization Test (SOT), the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS), and the Romberg test; however, the National Collegiate Athletic Association recommended the Wii Fit as an alternative measure of balance in athletes with a concussion. A central concern regarding the implementation of the Wii Fit is whether it is reliable and valid for measuring balance disturbance in athletes with concussion. Objective: To examine the reliability and validity evidence for the CTSIB, SOT, BESS, Romberg test, and Wii Fit for detecting balance disturbance in athletes with a concussion. Data Sources: Literature considered for review included publications with reliability and validity data for the assessments of balance (CTSIB, SOT, BESS, Romberg test, and Wii Fit) from PubMed, PsycINFO, and CINAHL. Data Extraction: We identified 63 relevant articles for consideration in the review. Of the 63 articles, 28 were considered appropriate for inclusion and 35 were excluded. Data Synthesis: No current reliability or validity information supports the use of the CTSIB, SOT, Romberg test, or Wii Fit for balance assessment in athletes with a concussion. The BESS demonstrated moderate to high reliability (interclass correlation coefficient = 0.87) and low to moderate validity (sensitivity = 34%, specificity = 87%). However, the Romberg test and Wii Fit have been shown to be reliable tools in the assessment of balance in Parkinson patients. Conclusions: The BESS can evaluate balance problems after a concussion. However, it lacks the ability to detect balance problems after the third day of recovery. Further investigation is needed to establish the use of the CTSIB, SOT, Romberg test, and Wii Fit for assessing balance in athletes with concussions.

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A Vibrotactile Feedback Device for Seated Balance Assessment and Training

Journal of Visualized Experiments ◽

10.3791/58611 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Andrew D. Williams ◽

Albert H. Vette

Keyword(s):

Balance Assessment ◽

Vibrotactile Feedback ◽

Seated Balance ◽

And Training

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Using the Wii Fit as a tool for balance assessment and neurorehabilitation: the first half decade of “Wii-search”

Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation ◽

10.1186/1743-0003-11-12 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 12 ◽

Cited By ~ 81

Author(s):

Daniel J Goble ◽

Brian L Cone ◽

Brett W Fling

Keyword(s):

Balance Assessment ◽

Wii Fit ◽

Half Decade

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Proof-of-Concept of the Virtual Reality Comprehensive Balance Assessment and Training for Sensory Organization of Dynamic Postural Control

Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology ◽

10.3389/fbioe.2021.678006 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Sanghee Moon ◽

Chun-Kai Huang ◽

Maryam Sadeghi ◽

Abiodun E. Akinwuntan ◽

Hannes Devos

Keyword(s):

Virtual Reality ◽

Face Validity ◽

Frequency Change ◽

Proof Of Concept ◽

Balance Assessment ◽

Sense Of Presence ◽

Stable Surface ◽

Unstable Surface ◽

Post Hoc ◽

And Training

Accurate quantification of the impact of visual, somatosensory, and vestibular systems on postural control may inform tailor-made balance intervention strategies. The aim of this proof-of-concept study was to determine the safety, sense of presence, system usability, and face validity of a newly developed Virtual Reality Comprehensive Balance Assessment and Training (VR-ComBAT) in healthy young individuals. The VR-ComBAT included six balance condition: (1) stable surface with fixed virtual reality (VR) surroundings; (2) stable surface with blacked out VR surroundings; (3) stable surface with VR visual conflict; (4) unstable surface with fixed VR surroundings; (5) unstable surface with blacked out VR surroundings; and (6) unstable surface with VR visual conflict. Safety was evaluated using the number of adverse events, including scores on the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire. Sense of presence was evaluated using the igroup Presence Questionnaire (iPQ). System usability was assessed using the Systems Usability Scale (SUS). Friedman analyses with post hoc Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests were employed to demonstrate face validity by quantifying center of pressure (COP) changes in mean distance, mean velocity, and mean frequency in the anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) direction across the six conditions. Twenty-three participants (27.4 ± 8.0 years old; 13 women) reported no adverse events. Participants scores on average 44.9 ± 9.6 on the iPQ and 79.7 ± 9.9 on the SUS. Post hoc analyses showed significant changes in COP-based measures when compared to baseline. The mean frequency change of COP showed direction-dependence in which increased frequency change in AP was observed while decreased change in ML was noted. The VR-ComBAT provides a safe, feasible, and cost-effective VR environment that demonstrates consistent sensory re-weighting between visual, somatosensory, and vestibular systems. Future studies should investigate whether VR-ComBAT can be used to inform precision rehabilitation of balance and fall prevention in older adults without and with neurological conditions.

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Recurrence quantification analysis of motor learning and training

10.32920/ryerson.14657664.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Barry Vuong

Keyword(s):

Motor Learning ◽

Plantar Flexion ◽

Motor Units ◽

Recurrence Quantification Analysis ◽

Nintendo Wii ◽

Wii Fit ◽

Recurrence Quantification ◽

Quantification Analysis ◽

The Subject ◽

And Training

The goal of this study was to apply recurrence quantification analysis (RQA) to surface electromyographic (sEMG) signals during motor learning and training activities. It has been previously demonstrated that the RQA variable, percentage of determinism (�T), is related to the synchronization of motor units. It is suggested that �T will change throughout the motor learning and training process. As a result, the experiment consisted of two separate parts. The motor learning part required a male subject to train using the Nintendo Wii Fit® software, Wii Fit® balance board and the Nintendo Wii® gaming console. The myoelectric signals were acquired from the peroneus longus (PL) and soleusu (S) muscles. During the course of this experiment a soccor simulator and three in-game balance tests were used to evaluate motor learning. The second part of the experiment consisted of a chronic incomplete spinal cord injured patient from Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. The subject trained three times a week for fourteen days. Each training session consisted of the subject performing weighted dorsal and plantar flexion. Both parts of the experiments suggests that there is a decrease in synchronization of motor units after motor learning and training (decrease in �T). Additionally, the time course of �T displayed a convergence of levels between the right PL and right S during the virtual environment training. It is concluded that RQA demonstrates the ability to detect motor learning and training. Possible applications for the use of RQA on sEMG signal could be the evaluation of rehabilitation programs. By monitoring the �T, it may be possible to determine if a particular rehabilitation program is effective for a patient. This could lead to customizable programs, suited for a specific person, in order to increase the rate of recovery.

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Recurrence quantification analysis of motor learning and training

10.32920/ryerson.14657664 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Barry Vuong

Keyword(s):

Motor Learning ◽

Plantar Flexion ◽

Motor Units ◽

Recurrence Quantification Analysis ◽

Nintendo Wii ◽

Wii Fit ◽

Recurrence Quantification ◽

Quantification Analysis ◽

The Subject ◽

And Training

The goal of this study was to apply recurrence quantification analysis (RQA) to surface electromyographic (sEMG) signals during motor learning and training activities. It has been previously demonstrated that the RQA variable, percentage of determinism (�T), is related to the synchronization of motor units. It is suggested that �T will change throughout the motor learning and training process. As a result, the experiment consisted of two separate parts. The motor learning part required a male subject to train using the Nintendo Wii Fit® software, Wii Fit® balance board and the Nintendo Wii® gaming console. The myoelectric signals were acquired from the peroneus longus (PL) and soleusu (S) muscles. During the course of this experiment a soccor simulator and three in-game balance tests were used to evaluate motor learning. The second part of the experiment consisted of a chronic incomplete spinal cord injured patient from Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. The subject trained three times a week for fourteen days. Each training session consisted of the subject performing weighted dorsal and plantar flexion. Both parts of the experiments suggests that there is a decrease in synchronization of motor units after motor learning and training (decrease in �T). Additionally, the time course of �T displayed a convergence of levels between the right PL and right S during the virtual environment training. It is concluded that RQA demonstrates the ability to detect motor learning and training. Possible applications for the use of RQA on sEMG signal could be the evaluation of rehabilitation programs. By monitoring the �T, it may be possible to determine if a particular rehabilitation program is effective for a patient. This could lead to customizable programs, suited for a specific person, in order to increase the rate of recovery.

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Deficits in postural control in individuals with COPD - emerging evidence for an important secondary impairment

Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine ◽

10.4081/mrm.2010.563 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

Author(s):

Maria K. Beauchamp ◽

Dina Brooks ◽

Roger Goldstein

Keyword(s):

Postural Control ◽

Pulmonary Rehabilitation ◽

Fall Risk ◽

Balance Control ◽

Relevant Literature ◽

Future Research ◽

Balance Assessment ◽

Balance Deficits ◽

The Impact ◽

And Training

Emerging evidence suggests that individuals with COPD demonstrate reductions in balance control that may be associated with an increased fall risk. The purpose of this review is to: 1) provide a brief overview of balance control and its assessment; 2) review relevant literature describing balance impairment in individuals with COPD; and 3) highlight impor- tant areas for future research. The observation of balance deficits and an increased fall risk in patients with COPD suggests the need for including balance assessment and training for patients enrolled in pulmonary rehabilitation who may be vulnerable. Further studies are needed to determine which aspects of balance are affected and to examine the impact of interventions.

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