Exergames for women with fibromyalgia: a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effects on mobility skills, balance and fear of falling

PeerJ

article

Daniel Collado-Mateo¹  Francisco J. Dominguez-Muñoz¹  Jose C. Adsuar¹  Eugenio Merellano-Navarro²  Narcis Gusi¹ 

[1] Faculty of Sport Science, Departamento de Didáctica de la Expresión Musical, Plástica y Corporal, University of Extremadura;Facultad de Educación, Universidad Autónoma de Chile

关键词: Falls;    Virtual reality;    Chronic pain;    Postural control;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.3211

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundExergames are a new form of rehabilitation that combine the characteristics of physical exercise and the benefits of non-immersive virtual reality (VR). Effects of this novel therapy in women fibromyalgia are still unknown. The objective was to evaluate the effects of exergame-based intervention on mobility skills, balance and fear of falling in women with fibromyalgia.MethodsThis study was a randomized controlled trial with concealed allocation. Seventy-six women with fibromyalgia were divided into two groups: the exercise group received an eight week intervention based on exergames, while the control group continued their usual activities. Mobility skills were evaluated using the timed up and go test, while balance was assessed using the functional reach test, and the CTSIB protocol. Fear of falling was evaluated on a scale of 0–100 (0, no fear; 100, extreme fear). Measurements were performed before and after the intervention. A repeated-measures linear mixed model was used to compare the effects of the intervention between the two groups.ResultsThe exercise group was significantly quicker than the control group in the timed up and go test (MD, −0.71; 95% CI [−1.09–0.32]; p < 0.001). There were also significant improvements in functional reach and a reduced fear of falling (MD, 4.34; 95% CI [1.39–7.30]; p = 0.005 and MD, −9.85; 95% CI [−0.19–−0.08]; p = 0.048, respectively).DiscussionThe improved TUG observed herein was better than the smallest real difference. Based on the results on mobility skills, balance and fear of falling, exergames may be an effective tool as a therapy for women with fibromyalgia.

【 授权许可】

CC BY