The Feasibility of Nintendo RingFit to Improve Balance and Muscle Strength of Elders
- Conditions
- Accidental Falls
- Interventions
- Other: Nintendo RingFit-augmented exercise program
- Registration Number
- NCT05949359
- Lead Sponsor
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Brief Summary
Background Existing findings have suggested that exergaming (i.e., exercise that requires people to move their body to play, providing an active gaming experience while serving as a form of physical activity), may have a potential to improve muscle strength and balance in older adults. However, no study has been conducted to investigate the effects of the Nintendo RingFit - an action role-playing game that aims to provide exercise training using a ring-shaped force sensor - in improving muscle strength and balance and possibly reducing falls in older adults living in the community.
Objective This study aims to investigate the feasibility of an exercise training program using Nintendo RingFit to improve balance and muscle strength among community-dwelling older adults.
Design A single-blind, randomized controlled feasibility trial.
Methods 30 participants will be recruited at local community-based elderly centers. Participants will be randomized to either the Nintendo RingFit-based exercise training group (NRE) or control group (CON) group with an allocation ratio of 1:1 by a researcher who will not participate in the recruitment and outcome evaluation. The NRE group will received an 8-week exercise training focusing on balance and lower limb muscle strength using the Nintendo RingFit. The CON group will receive a booklet and verbal instructions on the exercise for falls prevention, will be invited to join a leisure activity program (e.g., singing group) without any active exercise component for 8 weeks.
Outcomes The feasibility, acceptability and safety of the program will be examined at the end of the intervention. Postural balance, lower extremity strength, mobility, attention and executive function, fear of falling, and falls incidence of the participants will be assessed at 8 weeks.
Statistical analyses Descriptive statistics were presented for all variables. Chi-Square Test will be used to compare the difference in the proportion of fallers between the NRE and CON groups. Mann-Whitney U Test will be used to compare the functional outcomes between the 2 groups.
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 43
- were 60 years old or above;
- had at least one fall in the past year;
- were able to walk independently without a walking aid for at least 10 meters;
- had no previous experience of using the Nintendo RingFit.
- had a severe musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary or neurological condition that limited their participation in the exercise program or assessment;
- had a significant visual or hearing impairment that limited their ability to follow exercise instructions;
- scored 18 or below in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Hong Kong version (HK-MoCA) 4; or
- participated in any structured exercise program in the past 6 months.
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Nintendo RingFit exercise group Nintendo RingFit-augmented exercise program Participants in the Nintendo RingFit exercise group received an 8-week, twice-weekly exercise program focusing on improving balance and lower limb muscle strength using Nintendo RingFit device.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Adherence Throughout the 8-week exercise program The attendance and retention of the participants in the trial
Adverse events Throughout the 8-week exercise program The number of adverse events as a result of the exercise program
Acceptability At 8-week post-intervention The acceptability of the participants toward the exercise program
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Five-time-sit-to-stand test Week 0 (baseline) and week 8 (post-assessment) Lower limb muscle strength, sec
Timed-Up and Go test - single and dual tasks Week 0 (baseline) and week 8 (post-assessment) General mobility and dual task ability, sec
Iconographical Falls Efficacy Scale Week 0 (baseline) and week 8 (post-assessment) Fear of falling, score range: 10 - 40, a higher score indicates greater fear of falling
Color Trails Test Week 0 (baseline) and week 8 (post-assessment) Attention and executive function, sec
Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test Week 0 (baseline) and week 8 (post-assessment) Balance, score range: 0 - 28, a higher score indicates better balance
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
ðŸ‡ðŸ‡°Hong Kong, Hong Kong