Intensive Training with Virtual Reality on Mobility in Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy—Single Subject Design

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 18; no. 19; p. 10455
• Main Authors: Valenzuela, Elisa, Rosa, Renata, Monteiro, Carlos, Keniston, Leslie, Ayupe, Kênnea, Frônio, Jaqueline, Chagas, Paula
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 05.10.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Cerebral palsy; Computer & video games; Teenagers; Virtual reality; Italy
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph181910455

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of a short-term intensive virtual reality intervention in adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods: Single-subject design, type A–B-follow-up, with four participants (P) with CP, 15–18 years, GMFCS level II. A two-week intervention phase was performed with twelve Nintendo® Wii games in six sessions (90 min) per week. Outcome variables were semi-static balance (Pressure Center Oscillation—PCO), gait speed (Ten Meter Walk Test at usual speed—TMWT-U; and fast speed—TMWT-F), mobility (Timed Up and Go test—TUG), endurance (sit-to-stand test 5 times—STS-5), and gross motor activity (Gross Motor Function Measure—GMFM). Results: Statistical improvements were observed in GMFM-D (P2–P3), TMWT-F (P2–P3–P4) and TMWT-U (P2), STS-5 (P3–P4), TUG (P3), and PCO (P2–P3), assessed by level, trend, latency, and visual inspection to analyze change. Conclusions: This study shows that a short-term intensive intervention using Nintendo® Wii-based games in adolescents, GMFCS level II, can be an effective therapy, leading to some recovery of functioning in these young people.