Background: Exergaming is a promising new alternative to traditional modes of therapeutic exercise which may\nbe preferable and more effective for people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Impaired balance is reported as one of\nthe most disabling aspects of MS. The purposes of this study were to examine the effects of exergaming on: (1)\npostural sway, (2) gait, (3) technology acceptance and (4) flow experience in people with MS. Secondary outcomes\nwere disability: 12?item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale (MSWS-12) and the World Health Organization Disability\nAssessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) questionnaire.\nMethods: Fifty-six adults (mean age = 52 years, SD = 5.8; 38 women) with a clinical diagnosis of MS and able to\nwalk 100 meters with or without use of a walking aid were included in this study and randomized into 3 groups.\nGroup 1 received balance training using the Nintendo Wii Fitââ??¢ (exergaming) and Group 2 undertook traditional\nbalance training (non-exergaming). Group 3 acted as a control group, receiving no intervention. Exergaming and\ntraditional balance training groups received four weeks of twice weekly balance-orientated exercise. Postural sway\nwas measured using a Kistlerââ??¢ force platform. Spatiotemporal parameters of gait were measured using a GAITRiteââ??¢\ncomputerised walkway. Technology acceptance and flow experience were measured using the Unified Theory of\nAcceptance and Use of Technology and the Flow State Scale questionnaires, respectively.\nResults: There were significant improvements in bipedal postural sway in both intervention groups when compared\nto the control group; and no effects of either intervention on gait. There were no significant differences between the\ninterventions in technology acceptance but on several dimensions of flow experience the Wii Fitââ??¢ was superior to\ntraditional balance training. Both interventions showed improvements in disability compared to control.\nConclusions: In terms of the physical effects of exergaming, the Wii Fitââ??¢ is comparable to traditional balance training.\nThese findings would support the use of the Wii Fitââ??¢ as an effective means of balance and gait training for people with\nMS, which is both accepted and intrinsically motivating to MS users.
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