Year: 2026 | Month: September | Volume: 16 | Issue: 9 | Pages: 247-254
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20260925
Exergaming Versus Conventional Balance Exercises on Balance Compromised Geriatric Population - A Single Blinded Randomized Clinical Trial
Thansil M. S1, Rakesh. M2
1Lecturer, Department of Neurophysiotherapy, Acharya Institute of Health Sciences, Bengaluru.
2Head of Neurophysiotherapy Department, Cauvery College of Physiotherapy Mysore,
Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
Corresponding Author: Thansil M.S
ABSTRACT
Background: Balance impairment and fear of falling are common concerns in older adults. Exercise-based interventions can improve balance, while exergaming provides interactive visual feedback that may support participation.
Objective: To compare the effects of Nintendo Wii Fit exergaming and conventional balance exercises on balance and fear of falling in older adults with moderate balance impairment.
Methods: This single-blinded randomized clinical trial included 46 participants aged 60–80 years. Participants were allocated to an exergaming group (Group A, n=23) or a conventional balance exercise group (Group B, n=23). Both groups received supervised 45-minute sessions three times per week for 6 weeks. Balance and fear of falling were assessed before and after the intervention using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Falls Efficacy Scale–International (FES-I).
Results: Within-group paired comparisons showed significant pre- to post-intervention improvement in BBS and FES-I in both groups (p≤0.001). At post-test, BBS scores were higher in Group A than Group B (28.91±2.70 vs 26.17±1.67; t=4.14, p<0.001; Cohen's d=1.22). Post-test FES-I scores were 28.61±4.80 and 30.04±5.11, respectively, with no statistically significant between-group difference (t=-0.98, p=0.333; Cohen's d=-0.29).
Conclusion: Both interventions improved balance and reduced fear of falling over 6 weeks. The between-group analysis demonstrated a statistically significant difference in post-intervention BBS scores, whereas no statistically significant between-group difference was observed in FES-I scores.
Key words: Exergaming; Nintendo Wii Fit; conventional balance exercise; older adults; Berg Balance Scale; Falls Efficacy Scale–International.