Context: Therapeutic exercise programs that incorporate real-time feedback have been reported to enhance outcomes in patients with lower extremity joint injuries. The Wii Fit has been purported to improve balance, strength, flexibility, and fitness.
Objective: To determine the effects of Wii Fit rehabilitation on postural control and self-reported function in patients with a history of lower limb injury.
Design: Single-blinded, randomized controlled trial.
Setting: Laboratory.
Patients or other participants: Twenty-eight physically active participants with a history of lower limb injuries were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups (9 Wii Fit, 10 traditional, 9 control).
Intervention(s): Intervention groups performed supervised rehabilitation 3 d/wk for a total of 12 sessions.
Main outcome measure(s): Time to boundary (TTB) and the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) were conducted at baseline, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks. Self-reported function was measured at baseline and 4-week follow-up. Between-groups differences were compared using repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance.
Results: With the eyes open, both intervention groups improved (P < .05) in the mean and the SD of the TTB anterior-posterior minima. In the eyes-closed condition, a time main effect (P < .05) for absolute TTB medial-lateral minima was observed. A time main effect was also noted in the posteromedial and posterolateral reach directions of the SEBT. When the scores for each group were pooled, improvement (P < .05) in self-reported function was demonstrated at 4-week follow-up.
Conclusions: Rehabilitation using the Wii Fit and traditional exercises improved static postural control in patients with a history of lower extremity injury.