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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05949359

The Feasibility of Nintendo RingFit to Improve Balance and Muscle Strength of Elders

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Accidental Falls

Age range

60 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Hong Kong

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • 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.

Exclusion criteria

  • 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.

Treatment and study plan

Nintendo RingFit-augmented exercise program

Other

Participants in the NRE group received an 8-week exercise training program using the Nintendo RingFit (60 minutes for each session, two sessions a week). In each session, the participants first performed 5 minutes of walk-up exercises (i.e., simple jogging), followed by 50 minutes of Nintendo RingFit exercises and 5 minutes of cool down exercises.

The exercise intensity, in terms of repetitions, holding time of the exercise and advancement to difficult tasks, progressed gradually in 8 weeks.

Primary outcomes

  1. Adherence

    Time frame: Throughout the 8-week exercise program

    The attendance and retention of the participants in the trial

  2. Adverse events

    Time frame: Throughout the 8-week exercise program

    The number of adverse events as a result of the exercise program

  3. Acceptability

    Time frame: At 8-week post-intervention

    The acceptability of the participants toward the exercise program

Secondary outcomes

  1. Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline) and week 8 (post-assessment)

    Balance, score range: 0 - 28, a higher score indicates better balance

  2. Five-time-sit-to-stand test

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline) and week 8 (post-assessment)

    Lower limb muscle strength, sec

  3. Timed-Up and Go test - single and dual tasks

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline) and week 8 (post-assessment)

    General mobility and dual task ability, sec

  4. Iconographical Falls Efficacy Scale

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline) and week 8 (post-assessment)

    Fear of falling, score range: 10 - 40, a higher score indicates greater fear of falling

  5. Color Trails Test

    Time frame: Week 0 (baseline) and week 8 (post-assessment)

    Attention and executive function, sec

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effects of a Balance and Muscle Strengthening Exercise Program Using the Nintendo RingFit in Community-dwelling Older Adults With a History of Falls - a Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2023
First posted
Jul 18, 2023
Registry last updated
Jul 19, 2023

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

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This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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