The Effectiveness of the WiiFit as an Intervention to Prevent the Risk of Lower Back Injuries

Abstract

Lower back injuries are among the leading causes of work lost in the poultry industry, due to lifting heaving objects repetitively. The purpose of this study was to investigate how the Nintendo® WiiFit game would compare to traditional methods of strengthening hip flexor muscles to help reduce the risk of lower back injuries during lifting tasks. Twenty one subjects were pseudo-randomly assigned into three groups: (1) those who participated in a 5 week WiiFit game exercise intervention, (2) those who participated in a dose equivalent traditional exercise workout routine, and (3) the control group who did not participate in any exercise. During pre- and post-interventions, subjects performed a repetitive lifting task for 10 minutes at a self-selected pace. Subjects lifted a box filled with 20lbs of sand in a temperature control room that was set to an average of 40°F. The results showed no significant difference between body mass index, heart rate or calories burned between the groups before or after the intervention. Survey results revealed that those who participated in the WiiFit game reported a higher level of enjoyment of the exercise, and perceived a greater improvement of strength, endurance and balance over the control group. Kinematic analysis of the data revealed that the strategies for lifting varied between the groups. The WiiFit game is an enjoyable exercise routine that may help prevent lower back injuries.