AUTHOR COPY
Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease 75 (2020) 817–826
DOI 10.3233/JAD-191301
IOS Press
817
Effect of Wii Fit
©
Exercise on Balance
of Older Adults with Neurocognitive
Disorders: A Meta-Analysis
Munira Sultana
a,∗
, Dianne Bryant
b
, J.B. Orange
c
, Taylor Beedie
a
and Manuel Montero-Odasso
d,e,f
a
Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Western University, London, ON, Canada
b
School of Physical Therapy and Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry (Orthopaedic Surgery),
Western University; Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University;
Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
c
School of Communication Science and Disorders and Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging,
Western University; Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
d
Geriatric Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario,
London, ON, Canada
e
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry,
University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
f
Gait and Brain Lab, Parkwood Institute, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
Accepted 13 March 2020
Abstract.
Background: Exercise is beneficial to maintain balance. Wii Fit
©
, a video game-based exercise, offers an enjoyable way to
exercise and is feasible for older adults with neurocognitive disorders (NCD).
Objective: To evaluate the effects of Wii Fit
©
exercise training on the balance of older adults with NCD.
Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials using Cochrane collaboration tools. The partici-
pants were older adults (60 years and over) with NCD. Balance was measured with Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Timed Up
and Go (TUG). Two reviewers independently searched, selected, extracted data, assessed risk of biases, and determined the
quality of evidence. Outcomes were evaluated using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation
(GRADE). A meta-analysis was performed.
Results: The literature search identified 522 source documents of which titles and abstracts were reviewed for 428 after
removing 94 duplicates. The reviewers selected five studies out of 50 after a full text review. The overall effect of Wii Fit
©
exercise training on BBS was moderate, significant, and clinically meaningful (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.5
standard deviation [SD] [95% confidence interval [CI] 0.08, 0.84]). No effect was observed with TUG scores (SMD = 0.00
SD [95% CI –0.44, 0.44]). The GRADE quality of evidence was very low.
Conclusion: Wii Fit
©
exercise training has a positive effect on balance in older adults with NCD. However, further research
with sufficient power is needed to evaluate its effectiveness.
Keywords: Aged, neurocognitive disorders, postural balance, video games
∗
Correspondence to: Munira Sultana, PhD Candidate, Health
and Rehabilitation Sciences, Western University, Rm. 1014, Elborn
College, 1201 Western Rd., London, ON, N6G 1H1, Canada.
E-mail: msulta@uwo.ca.
INTRODUCTION
Active physical exercise (self performed) is doc-
umented in several review articles to benefit the
executive function of older adults and to reduce
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