Effects of interactive games on motor performance in children with spastic cerebral palsy

[Purpose] Motor control and muscle strength impairments are the prime reasons for motorbehavior disorders in children with spastic cerebral palsy. These impairments lead tohistological changes in muscle growth and the learning of motor skills. Therefore, suchchildren experience reduced muscle force generation and decreased muscle flexibility. Weinvestigated the effect of training with Nintendo Wii Fit games on motor performance inchildren with spastic cerebral palsy. [Subjects and Methods] Forty children with cerebralpalsy spastic diplegia aged 6–10 years diagnosed with level-3 functional capabilitiesaccording to the Gross Motor Classification System (GMFCS) were enrolled. Participantswere divided randomly into equal groups: group (A) that practiced with the Nintendo WiiFit game for at least 20 minutes/day for 12 weeks and group (B) that underwent no training(control group). The Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (mABC-2) was used toassess motor performance, because it mainly involves motor tasks very similar to thoseinvolved in playing Nintendo Wii Fit games, e.g., goal-directed arm movements, balancing,and jumping. [Results] There were significant improvements in the subscales of the motorperformance test of those who practiced with the Nintendo Wii, while the control groupshowed no significant changes. [Conclusion] Using motion interactive games in homerehabilitation is feasible for children with cerebral palsy.Key words: Games, Motor, Pediatrics