Effect of Wii-Based Balance Training on Corticomotor Excitability Post Stroke

• Published in: Journal of motor behavior Vol. 47; no. 3; pp. 190 - 200
• Main Authors: Omiyale, Oluwabunmi, Crowell, Charles R., Madhavan, Sangeetha
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Routledge 04-05-2015; Taylor & Francis Inc
• Subjects: Aged; balance; Brain Ischemia - complications; Brain Ischemia - physiopathology; Brain Ischemia - rehabilitation; Cerebral Cortex - physiopathology; Computer & video games; corticomotor excitability; Exercise Therapy; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Movement; Muscle, Skeletal - physiopathology; Neuronal Plasticity - physiology; Nintendo Wii Fit; Online entertainment; Paresis - etiology; Paresis - physiopathology; Paresis - rehabilitation; Physical therapy; Postural Balance - physiology; Reaction Time - physiology; Sports training; Stroke; Stroke - complications; Stroke - physiopathology; Stroke Rehabilitation; Survivor; transcranial magnetic stimulation; Video Games; transcranial magnetic stimulation; balance; corticomotor excitability; stroke; Nintendo Wii Fit
• ISSN: 0022-2895; 1940-1027
• DOI: 10.1080/00222895.2014.971699

The objective was to examine the effectiveness of a 3-week balance training program using the Nintendo Wii Fit gaming system (Nintendo Wii Sports, Nintendo, Redmond, WA) on lower limb corticomotor excitability and other clinical measures in chronic stroke survivors. Ten individuals diagnosed with ischemic stroke with residual hemiparesis received balance training using the Wii Fit for 60 min/day, three times/week, for three weeks. At the end of training, an increase in interhemispheric symmetry of corticomotor excitability of the tibialis anterior muscle representations was noted (n = 9). Participants also showed improvements in reaction time, time to perform the Dual Timed-Up-and-Go test, and balance confidence. The training-induced balance in corticomotor excitability suggests that this Wii-based balance training paradigm has the potential to influence neural plasticity and thereby functional recovery.