The effect of the Nintendo Wii Fit on the balance control and gross motor function of children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy

Background: Balance and postural control are an integral part of gross motor function in activities of daily living. Studies have shown that children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy have poor directional specificity as well as problems with the temporal and spatial modulation of appropriate muscle action in response to balance perturbations. Children with hemiplegia have also been shown to develop direction-specific postural control at a slower pace than typically developing children. Apart from their postural muscle coordination problems, these children have difficulties with sensory integration which contributes to increased reaction time. Research on balance training in children with cerebral palsy has demonstrated that improved balance translates into more effective gross motor function. It appears that postural control mechanisms are still modifiable for children with cerebral palsy even in elementary to middle school ages. Physiotherapy treatment for children with cerebral palsy should therefore involve balance training as a focus of intervention. Literature on balance control and virtual reality rehabilitation justifies investigating the use of a commercially ~vailable gaming system, such as the Nintendo Wii Fit, as a rehabilitation tool to improve balance control and therefore gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy. Objective: To determine the effect of an intervention with the Nintendo Wii Fit on the balance control and gross motor function of children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Division of Physiotherapy

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Author dc:creator

• Pronk, Marieke Daniela

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Jelsma, Jennifer
• Jelsma, Dorothee
• Ferguson, Gillian

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9035

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/9035