The impact of exergames on the functional balance of a teenager with cerebral palsy – a case report

Abstract

Purpose To understand the impact of an intensive rehabilitation program based on exergames in balance and lower limb function in a teenager with cerebral palsy. Methods The rehabilitation program comprised different customised exergames and was delivered in 5 weekly sessions of 30 min for 4 weeks. Pre-, post-, and 1-month Follow-up assessments included the following metrics: Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), Posturography, and Gait analysis. Results We observed increased scores after the intervention of 9/72 points in GMF – Module E (Walk, Run and Jump) and of 9/56 points in BBS, sustained at Follow-up. Changes in function, specifically in the quality and independence of the performance of specific movements such as turning 360°, increased distance reaching forward, walk behind, step over obstacles, and step stairs up and down were also observed. Gait kinematics and Spatio-temporal parameters tended to get closer to the 50th percentile. Conclusions We observed positive changes in motor function of a teenager with cerebral palsy, with sustained increased scores at a 1-month Follow-up. Findings are suggestive that intensive rehabilitation programs using exergames with high customisation features are a potentially valuable rehabilitation tool for training balance in teenagers with Cerebral Palsy. Implications for rehabilitation Exergames may be a useful for providing balance training for teenagers who have a mixed form of cerebral palsy. Exergames that require body displacement may be suitable for modulating gait kinematics and spatio-temporal parameters. The customisation of virtual rehabilitation tools seems to impact the motivation and effort of the user positively.