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

NCT05949359 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: URIS2021-111
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 43
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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.

Conditions

Accidental Falls

Keywords

Falls; Exergaming; Feasibility studies; Aged

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Adherence

  The attendance and retention of the participants in the trial

  Throughout the 8-week exercise program

• Adverse events

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

  Throughout the 8-week exercise program

• Acceptability

  The acceptability of the participants toward the exercise program

  At 8-week post-intervention

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test

  Week 0 (baseline) and week 8 (post-assessment)

• Five-time-sit-to-stand test

  Week 0 (baseline) and week 8 (post-assessment)

• Timed-Up and Go test - single and dual tasks

  Week 0 (baseline) and week 8 (post-assessment)

• Iconographical Falls Efficacy Scale

  Week 0 (baseline) and week 8 (post-assessment)

• Color Trails Test

  Week 0 (baseline) and week 8 (post-assessment)

Study Arms (2)

Nintendo RingFit exercise group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in the Nintendo RingFit exercise group received an 8-week, twice-weekly exercise program focusing on improving balance and lower limb muscle strength using Nintendo RingFit device.

Other: Nintendo RingFit-augmented exercise program

Control group

NO INTERVENTION

Usual care was received by the control group participants.

Interventions

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.

Nintendo RingFit exercise group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 60 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• 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.

You may not qualify if:

• 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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The Hong Kong Polytechnic University: lead

Study Sites (1)

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 9, 2023
• First Posted: July 18, 2023
• Study Start: August 1, 2021
• Primary Completion: April 30, 2023
• Study Completion: June 30, 2023
• Last Updated: July 19, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

HK (1)