Although motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD) are well established, few studies have described the effects of exergaming on the clinical and functional outcomes of PD.
Objectives: To analyze the effectiveness of exergaming in improving functional balance, fatigue, functional exercise capacity and quality of life in PD.
Methods: The study population consisted of 20 patients (12 males and 8 females) aged 61 ± 9.11 years allocated into two groups: an exergaming group (EGG) (n = 10) and a conventional exercise, or control, group (CG) (n = 10). The following variables were evaluated: functional balance (Berg Scale), fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale), functional exercise capacity (Six-Minute Walk Test) and quality of life (PDQ-39 Quality of Life Questionnaire).
Results: RM-ANOVA showed that balance and fatigue differed significantly between time points: balance [F(1.29, 23.33) = 4.16, p = 0.043] and fatigue [F(2,36) = 5.96, p = 0.006]. In both cases post hoc Bonferroni testing revealed an improvement after 12 weeks of exergaming (p = 0.033 and p = 0.000, respectively). However, this benefit was not sustained after 60 days of follow-up for either outcome. There were no differences in functional exercise capacity or quality of life between the two groups after 12 weeks of treatment.
Conclusion: Exergaming was effective in enhancing balance and reducing fatigue in PD patients after 12 weeks of treatment, but this benefit was not sustained in the long-term.
Keywords: Exergames; Fatigue; Parkinson's disease; Quality of life.
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