Nintendo Balance Board may protect from falls: Study

The researchers from the Department of Physiotherapy at the University of Melbourne claim that the balance board could be used as an economical alternative for diagnostic tests done for elders having neurological disorders.

Dr Ross Clark who initiated the present study informs, “The elderly and people suffering neurological conditions have impaired standing balance. This has a detrimental affect on their ability to function and increases their risk of falling.”

“There is currently no validated assessment system which can precisely measure centre of pressure (COP) an important component of standing balance, while being inexpensive, portable and widely available.”

One out of three old people fall at least once every year, and 10 to 30 percent of them fracture their bones or suffer from head traumas owing to the fall.

Study Details
The study compared the data gathered from the Nintendo Wii Balance Board against the data collected from a laboratory grade force plate, which costs more than 20,000 dollars.

Thirty young healthy individuals participated in this unique balance study that examined the Wii balance board’s effectiveness.

The study participants were evaluated on a number of balance tests that the researchers asked them to perform on the game board.

“We found that the Nintendo Wii Balance Board collects data comparable to the force plate, but has the added benefit of being a low-cost, simple to use, wireless and portable device for assessing balance,” says Dr Ross Clark.

Can all falls be prevented by the Balance Board?
The balance tests can work as a diagnostic method that could help in early detection of Parkinson’s disease and strokes which will enhance the life of the aging population.

Dr Ross Clark said, “Of course, balance testing and rehabilitation using Nintendo Wii Balance Board based systems will not prevent all falls. However, there is good reason to believe that a significant proportion of falls could either be prevented entirely or postponed.”

“This could provide a tool that clinicians and GPs can use in their medical practice as a potential injury screening tool,” he further adds.

Dr Clark is now all set to assess the Nintendo Wii Balance Board’s use for premature-born kids, people with brain injuries, and athletes.

The present study and its findings have been published in this month’s online issue of the International journal titled, ‘Gait and Posture’.