Publication type: Article in scientific journal
Type of review: Peer review (publication)
Title: Effects of an exergame software for older adults on fitness, activities of daily living performance, and quality of life
Authors: Neumann, Silke
Meidert, Ursula
Barberà-Guillem, Ricard
Poveda-Puente, Rakel
Becker, Heidrun Karin
DOI: 10.1089/g4h.2017.0079
Published in: Games for Health Journal
Volume(Issue): 7
Issue: 5
Page(s): 341
Pages to: 346
Issue Date: 2018
Publisher / Ed. Institution: Mary Ann Liebert
ISSN: 2161-783X
2161-7856
Language: English
Subjects: Daily living performance; Quality of life; Fitness; Endurance; Older adults
Subject (DDC): 610: Medicine and health
Abstract: Background: As people become older, the biological process of aging leads to a decline in functional capabilities, which entails difficulties in the performance of daily tasks. Within the ‘‘Active and Assisted Living Joint Programme’’ a consortium from Spain, Germany, and Switzerland developed an interactive Exergame software for older adults to maintain their physical abilities and independence within the daily tasks. Subjects and Methods: An interventional study was conducted to validate the software. For 3 months, Swiss and Spanish seniors used the system at least three times a week for minimum half an hour in their homes. The physical condition in terms of maintaining or increasing strength, balance, safety, and mobility of the seniors was assessed by using the Berg Balance Scale and the Senior Fitness Test. In addition, the effect on independence within the activities of daily living was assessed by using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, the Performance Quality Rating Scale, and the Iconographical Falls Efficacy Scale. We used the EQ 5D to evaluate the ‘‘Quality of Life.’’ Results: Twenty-nine participants (male; n = 14; female; n = 15) completed the study. Scores of endurance (2 minutes step test; P= 0.01, g2 = 0.3) increased significantly. Moderate effect sizes in quality of life (r= 0.3), lower body strength (g2 = 0.08), and large effect sizes in endurance (g2 = 0.3) were detected. A small effect was evaluated within the gait speed (r= 0.2), mobility in the lower body (r= 0.2), and the balance capabilities (r= 0.2). Conclusion: The results of this study lead us to the conclusion that physical training with activity-focused exergames that are related to the everyday tasks of older adults could help to maintain and improve the individual fitness status.
URI: https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/13061
Fulltext version: Published version
License (according to publishing contract): Licence according to publishing contract
Departement: School of Health Sciences
Organisational Unit: Institute of Occupational Therapy (IER)
Published as part of the ZHAW project: WeTakeCare
Appears in collections:Publikationen Gesundheit

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Neumann, S., Meidert, U., Barberà-Guillem, R., Poveda-Puente, R., & Becker, H. K. (2018). Effects of an exergame software for older adults on fitness, activities of daily living performance, and quality of life. Games for Health Journal, 7(5), 341–346. https://doi.org/10.1089/g4h.2017.0079
Neumann, S. et al. (2018) ‘Effects of an exergame software for older adults on fitness, activities of daily living performance, and quality of life’, Games for Health Journal, 7(5), pp. 341–346. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1089/g4h.2017.0079.
S. Neumann, U. Meidert, R. Barberà-Guillem, R. Poveda-Puente, and H. K. Becker, “Effects of an exergame software for older adults on fitness, activities of daily living performance, and quality of life,” Games for Health Journal, vol. 7, no. 5, pp. 341–346, 2018, doi: 10.1089/g4h.2017.0079.
NEUMANN, Silke, Ursula MEIDERT, Ricard BARBERÀ-GUILLEM, Rakel POVEDA-PUENTE und Heidrun Karin BECKER, 2018. Effects of an exergame software for older adults on fitness, activities of daily living performance, and quality of life. Games for Health Journal. 2018. Bd. 7, Nr. 5, S. 341–346. DOI 10.1089/g4h.2017.0079
Neumann, Silke, Ursula Meidert, Ricard Barberà-Guillem, Rakel Poveda-Puente, and Heidrun Karin Becker. 2018. “Effects of an Exergame Software for Older Adults on Fitness, Activities of Daily Living Performance, and Quality of Life.” Games for Health Journal 7 (5): 341–46. https://doi.org/10.1089/g4h.2017.0079.
Neumann, Silke, et al. “Effects of an Exergame Software for Older Adults on Fitness, Activities of Daily Living Performance, and Quality of Life.” Games for Health Journal, vol. 7, no. 5, 2018, pp. 341–46, https://doi.org/10.1089/g4h.2017.0079.


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