Upper limb training using Wii Sports Resort™ for children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy: a randomized, single-blind trial

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether Wii Sports Resort™ training is effective and if any benefits are maintained. Design: Randomized, single-blind trial. Participants: Sixty-two hemiplegic children with cerebral palsy (6–13 years). Intervention: Experimental group undertook six weeks of home-based Wii Sports Resort™ training plus usual therapy, while the control group received usual therapy. Main measures: Outcomes were coordination, strength, hand function, and carers’ perception of hand function, measured at baseline, six, and 12 weeks by a blinded assessor. Results: There was a trend of mean difference (MD) for the experimental group to have more grip strength by six (MD 4.0 N, 95% confidence interval (CI) −0.8 to 8.8, p = 0.10) and 12 (MD 4.1 N, 95% CI −2.1 to 10.3, p = 0.19) weeks, and to have a higher quantity of hand function according to carers’ perception by six (MD 4.5 N, 95% CI −0.7 to 9.7, p = 0.09) and strengthened by 12 (MD 6.4, 95% CI 0.6 to 12.3, p = 0.03) weeks than the control group. There was no difference between groups in coordination and hand function by six or 12 weeks. Conclusion: Wii™ training did not improve coordination, strength, or hand function. Beyond the intervention, carers perceived that the children used their hands more.