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BACKGROUND: The anti-saccadic (AS) error-rate is used to diagnose neurological disorders. The natural aging process could generate difficulty in carrying out parallel neural processes of conscious motor inhibition and eye movement. Therefore, if balance control is imposed on an elderly person in biped positions during an AS movement, an increase in the AS error-rate is expected. OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of postural control on the AS error-rate in older people. METHODS: An intra and intergroup comparison was made of AS error-rate in an experimental group of older people (PM) and another control group of young people (PJ). For this, blocks of AS and pro-saccadic movements (control) were used randomly in four different postures: (1)sitting (SENT), (2)standing normally (NORMAL), (3)feet together (REDUC), and (4)feet in line (TANDEM). RESULTS: The PM group, compared to the PJ group, showed a progressive increase in the AS error-rate from the sitting position to all standing positions, with the maximum AS error-rate in more complex vertical postures. In contrast, the PJ group did not present significative variability of this AS error-rate in all positions. CONCLUSIONS: It is confirmed that the aging process is associated with an increase in the AS error-rate. This study reveals for the first time a significant increase in the AS error-rate when control of body balance is required for PM, implying a decrease in the multiple processing capacity in PM for the execution of complex and parallel tasks.

Assuntos

RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to evaluate the effects of a Nintendo Wii Balance Board (NWBB) intervention on ankle spasticity and static standing balance in young people with spastic cerebral palsy (SCP). METHODS: Ten children and adolescents (aged 72-204 months) with SCP participated in an exercise program with NWBB. The intervention lasted 6 weeks, 3 sessions per week, 25 minutes for each session. Ankle spasticity was assessed using the Modified Modified Ashworth Scale (MMAS), and static standing balance was quantified using posturographic measures (center-of-pressure [CoP] measures). Pre- and post-intervention measures were compared. RESULTS: Significant decreases of spasticity in the ankle plantar flexor muscles (p < 0.01). There was also a significant reduction in the CoP sway area (p = 0.04), CoP mediolateral velocity (p =0.03), and CoP anterior-posterior velocity (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: A 6-session NWBB program reduces the spasticity at the ankle plantar flexors and improves the static standing balance in young people with SCP.

Assuntos

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Patients with cerebral palsy (CP) typically receive limited physical therapy services. However, the Nintendo Wii system offers a simple and affordable mode of virtual reality therapy. There are no clinical trials assessing the Nintendo Wii balance board for improving standing balance in CP. METHODS: This randomised clinical trial will evaluate the effectiveness of an 18-session/six-week protocol using Wii therapy (W-t) compared with conventional therapy (C-t) in Chilean CP patients. The C-t group will perform the typical exercises prescribed by physical therapists for 40 min each session. W-t will consist of a virtual reality training session using the Nintendo Wii balance board console for 30 min each session. The primary outcome variable is the area of centre-of-pressure (CoP) sway (CoPSway). The secondary outcomes are the standard deviation (SDML; SDAP) and velocity (VML; VAP) of CoP in the ML and AP directions. For a mean difference of 21.5 cm2 (CoPSway) between the groups, we required a minimum of 16 participants in each group. Data will be collected at baseline (week 0), during the study (weeks 2 and 4), at the end of the study (week 6), and during the follow-up (weeks 8 and 10). Measurements of postural control during quiet standing for both groups will be assessed on a force platform AMTI OR67. DISCUSSION: This is the first trial that measures and compares the effects of a Nintendo Wii Balance Board exercise programme on standing balance in children with cerebral palsy compared to conventional therapy.