Does video game-based balance-training improve gait stability in children with cerebral palsy?

Abstract

Video games are increasingly used in balance rehabilitation since literature has indicated promising effects on motivation [1] and functional outcomes [2] in several patient populations. Several pilot studies investigated the effectiveness of video game-based balance-training (VGBT) in children with cerebral palsy (CPc) [3,4], as these children experience poor balance control during standing and walking due to sensorimotor disorders resulting from non-progressive brain lesions [5]. These studies, however, yielded inconsistent results. This could be caused by the clinical balance scales used, which might be insensitive to training-induced improvements, as these scales are often ordinal-scale and composite scores of walking and standing balance [6].