Adherence and perceptions of a home sports video gaming program in persons with spinal cord injuries: A pilot study

Sports video-gaming can facilitate increased activity levels in persons with limited exercise options. Understanding how persons with spinal cord injuries (SCI) participate in home-based video-gaming and its potential impact on maintaining or enhancing physical function remains largely unexplored. The purpose of this study was to evaluate adherence, perceptions, and potential physical effects of a home sports video-game program for persons with chronic SCI.

Fourteen individuals with chronic SCI (9 tetraplegia, 5 paraplegia).

This was a prospective study. Wii video-gaming systems that included four sports games were provided to participants for home use. Participants were instructed to play for 8 weeks 3-4 days/week. The video consoles recorded the time and number of sessions played.

At baseline and at the conclusion of the program, measurements were made of upper extremity strength, perceived exertion, active heart rate, pain, balance, and a functional upper extremity (UE) test. The total time and number of sessions were compared to the prescribed game play as a measure of adherence. Scores from a self-reported survey were used to gauge participants' satisfaction and perceptions of their gaming experience.

Overall mean gaming adherence was 85% during the first 4 weeks and 69% for the second 4 weeks. There were no significant changes in upper extremity strength, active heart rate, balance, pain, or functional UE test for either group. All of the participants rated video gaming as enjoyable and 85.7% perceived that it could be used as a form of exercise.

The Wii sports home video-gaming intervention elicited overall high adherence rates and was well received by study participants indicating that it may have value as an adjunctive tool for increasing physical activity for individuals with SCI.