Abstract
Physical exercise and cognitive training were previously demonstrated to improve the physical functioning and decrease the incidence of falls for older adults. This study aimed to utilize an interactive exergame mat system to develop a novel cognitive–physical training program and explore the training effects on physical performance, cognitive function, dual-task walking (DTW), and fall risk compared to the control condition. In this quasi-experimental non-randomized controlled intervention study, 110 community-dwelling older adults participated. The exercise group (n = 56; mean age, 70.7 ± 4.6 years) performed ladder-type, three-by-three grid-type, and circle-type mat exergames with simultaneous cognitive–physical training (EMAT), while the control group (n = 54; mean age, 72.0 ± 5.7 years) underwent a multicomponent exercise intervention focused on physical and cognitive training. A 2 h training session was completed weekly for 3 months. Functional fitness (including upper- and lower-extremity strength and flexibility, grasp strength, aerobic endurance, static balance, dynamic balance and agility), a foot tapping test (FTT), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), DTW, and a fall risk questionnaire (FRQ) were assessed before and after the interventions. The EMAT program enhanced upper-extremity strength, lower-extremity strength and flexibility, aerobic endurance, and dynamic balance and agility; improved DTW and FTT performances; and decreased FRQ score. EMAT also showed a significant advantage over control in terms of lower-extremity strength and flexibility, aerobic endurance, dynamic balance and agility, and FRQ score (all P < 0.05). The current study provides evidence of the effects of a novel mat exergaming program on physical and cognitive performance. EMAT effectively reduced the fall risk and increased the dual-task ability of walking, factors that are important in fall prevention for community-dwelling older adults.
Highlights
Population aging is increasing the demand for health and social care services, and falls create an enormous burden (Stevens et al, 2006)
A systemic review of 25 studies of exergame technology and interactive interventions for fall prevention in older populations revealed that exergame interventions improved physical and cognitive functioning in elderly individuals (Choi et al, 2017)
The purposes of this study were to utilize an interactive exergame mat system to develop a novel cognitive–physical training program with multicomponent exercises and explore the training effects on physical performance, cognitive function, dual-task walking (DTW), and fall risk compared to the control condition
Summary
Population aging is increasing the demand for health and social care services, and falls create an enormous burden (Stevens et al, 2006). Research indicated that about one-third of communitydwelling older people experience at least one fall per year (Rubenstein, 2006). A systemic review of 25 studies of exergame technology and interactive interventions for fall prevention in older populations revealed that exergame interventions improved physical and cognitive functioning in elderly individuals (Choi et al, 2017). A recent study further investigated the effects of dance exergaming in fallers and non-fallers among communitydwelling older women and demonstrated the benefits of training on physical and psychological aspects. The authors concluded that dance exergaming can be indicated to decrease depressive symptoms in fallers and increase the peak torque (of the hamstrings) in non-fallers among community-dwelling older women (Rodrigues et al, 2018). The aforementioned evidence led to support of the use of exergame-based interventions for community-dwelling older people
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