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Effectiveness of a Home-Based Active Video Game Programme in Young Cystic Fibrosis Patients
Tamara Del Corral1, Maria Àngels Cebrià I Iranzo, Ibai López-de-Uralde-Villanueva
1Departamento de Fisioterapia, Motion in Brains Research Group, Centro Superior de Estudios Universitarios La Salle, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Insights
Active video games (AVGs) significantly improved exercise capacity and strength in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). This home-based program showed high adherence and sustained benefits for quality of life over 12 months.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rehabilitation
- Exercise Physiology
- Game-Based Intervention
Background:
- Exercise rehabilitation is crucial for cystic fibrosis (CF) management.
- Low patient adherence to traditional exercise programs is a significant challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a home-based active video game (AVG) program for children and adolescents with CF.
- To assess improvements in exercise capacity, muscular strength, and quality of life.
Main Methods:
- 39 children with CF were randomized into a control group or an AVG training group.
- The AVG group used a Nintendo Wii™ for 30-60 minute sessions, 5 days/week for 6 weeks.
- Measurements included 6-minute walk test (6MWT), modified shuttle walk test (MSWT), strength tests, and Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire-Revised (CFQ-R) at baseline, post-intervention, and 12 months.
Main Results:
- The AVG group demonstrated significant improvements in 6MWT and MSWT distances.
- Significant gains were observed in horizontal jump test, medicine ball throw, and hand grip strength.
- The AVG group reported better respiratory symptom scores, with sustained quality of life improvements at 12 months.
- Adherence to the AVG home exercise program reached 95%.
Conclusions:
- Home-based AVG programs are effective for improving exercise capacity and muscular strength in pediatric CF patients.
- AVGs enhance quality of life in the short-term, with sustained benefits observed over 12 months.
- High adherence rates suggest AVGs are a viable and engaging rehabilitation modality for CF.
Background:
Exercise-based rehabilitation is already a part of cystic fibrosis (CF) treatment; however, patient adherence is low.
Objectives:
To assess the effectiveness of a home exercise programme using active video games (AVGs) as a training modality for children and adolescents with CF.
Methods:
Thirty-nine children with CF were randomised to a control group (CG, n = 20, age 11 ± 6 years; FEV1 86.2 ± 20.5% of predicted) or a training group (AVGG, n = 19, age 13 ± 3 years; FEV1 82.7 ± 21.7% of predicted). The home training protocol consisted of 30- to 60-min sessions, 5 days/week, for 6 weeks using a Nintendo Wii™ platform. Exercise capacity was measured by the 6-min walk test (6MWT) and modified shuttle walk test (MSWT); muscular strength was estimated using the horizontal jump test (HJT), medicine ball throw (MBT), and hand grip strength (right [RHG]; left [LHG]); and quality of life was rated using the Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire-Revised (CFQ-R). All the children were measured at baseline, after rehabilitation, and at 12 months.
Results:
For the group × time interaction ANOVAs, the AVGG showed significant between-group differences in exercise capacity: 6MWT farthest walking distance, 38.4 m (p < 0.01); MSWT farthest walking distance, 78.4 m (p < 0.05); and muscular strength: HJT 9.8 cm, MBT 30.8 cm, RHG 7 kg, and LHG 6.5 kg (p < 0.01), before versus after intervention. The CFQ-R reported significantly higher scores on respiratory symptoms after the intervention and favoured the AVGG, and there was an improvement in other domains after 12 months. Adherence to the home exercise programme was 95% during the 6- week intervention period.
Conclusion:
A home-based programme using AVGs can effectively improve exercise capacity, muscular strength and quality of life in the short-term in children and adolescents with CF. The effects of training on muscle performance and quality of life were sustained over 12 months.
