Can videogames improve balance in women over 60 years?

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to measure the usefulness of incorporating videogames as a physical activity training program for women above 60 years old. Methods: An intergroup, intragroup and multigroup design on three groups were used as well as experimental methodology. Women above 60 years old (N=43, age=67.74 ± 5.03 years), completed a proprioceptive and resistance training during three months and three sessions a week. Participants were divided into: control group (CG) (n=11; age=67.09 ± 6.25 years), does not do the experimental training. Experimental group 1 (EG1: N= 16; age= 66.94 ± 4.14 years) performed a proprioceptive and resistance training program of 40 minutes, adding the use of a videogame during 20 minutes. Experimental group 2 (EG2) (N=16; age=69.00 ± 4.99 years), performed the same training without the videogame training. Results: We found an improvement in EG1 in body fat, balance with and without vision, dominant hand isometric force and VO2max. The EG2 group improves in body mass index (BMI), body fat, non-dominant hand isometric force and VO2max. CG does not change. Conclusion: Joining a physical training program, including proprioceptive and aerobic resistance exercises result in a weight and BMI drop, and a VO2max improvement in both groups (EG1 and EG2). Additionally, if the training program is completed with the use of videogames (EG1), monopodal static balance improve more than EG1 and EG2, with and without vision, which is considered beneficial to prevent falls in women over 60 years.