Comparative Effects Of Exergaming And Otago Exercise On Anticipatory Postural Control And Sensory Integration In Older Adults

Falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths globally and pose as a major public health issue, especially for older individuals. Elderly population experience difficulties in switching quickly between various reliable sensory inputs, which increases risk of falls and injuries. Balance and gait disorders are among the most common causes associated with falls in older individuals. Age-related declines in Sensory Integration and Anticipatory balance responses are one of the leading contributors to falls in older adults.

Rogers et al. in 2021 conducted the only identified head-to-head feasibility RCT directly comparing exergaming interventions with the Otago Exercise Program (OEP) in older adults. This mixed method study establishes the foundational evidence that exergaming and Otago exercise demonstrate comparable clinical benefits on functional balance measures, while identifying need for more detailed comparative studies using objective instrumented measures like Postural Stability System of Biodex.

Chen et al. conducted a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis in 2021. This meta-analytic evidence establishes a strong foundation supporting the hypothesis that exergaming interventions can outperform conventional exercise approaches on objective postural control metrics, directly informing the rationale for comparative effectiveness studies examining exergaming versus established fall-prevention programs like the Otago Exercise Program.

The Otago Exercise Program (OEP) is a promising intervention for preventing falls, thereby improving balance and gait. Previous studies reported improved effects on balance using the OEP conducted in a group setting. In 2022 Khumpaneid et al., conducted a study aimed to investigate the effects of a modified-OEP on four components of actual balance (static, dynamic, proactive, and reactive balance) and perceived balance in healthy older adults aged 60-85 years old. The modified-OEP group showed significant improvement in the four components of actual balance and in perceived balance.

The study conducted by Sápi et al., in 2021 aimed to evaluate whether Kinect exergame balance training could beneficially impact sensory reweighting in women over 60 years old. 14 healthy women participated in a single-group pretest/posttest/follow-up usability study. Participants engaged in Kinect for Xbox 360 console games three times a week, for 30 minutes per session, over a 6-week period (18 visits in total). This usability study provides evidence that Kinect exergaming can be a valuable intervention for improving balance and reducing fall risk in older women by enhancing mediolateral stability and sensory reweighting. This implies that the Exergaming may have improved proprioceptive function by providing visual feedback and challenging motor skills.