The Effects of Game Based Exercise Training on Balance and Postural Control in Patients With Ataxia

Ataksik Hastalarda Oyun Temelli Egzersiz Eğitiminin Denge ve Postural Kontrol Üzerine Etkisi

This study was planned to investigate the effects of exercise training based on Microsoft Kinect application on balance and postural control in ataxic patients.

Patients who meet the inclusion criteria will be divided into two groups randomly: 'Kinect and exercise training' and 'exercise training'. The assessments will be made by a blind investigator four times, before and after the implementation of both protocols. The evaluations will take approximately 1 hour. The demographic information of the cases will be recorded. Designed as cross over study, two treatment protocols will be used in this study. The first protocol will be Xbox Kinect application plus exercise program, the second protocol will be only exercise program. At the beginning of the study, 2 groups will be allocated (Group A and Group B) randomly. For group A, the Xbox Kinect application plus exercise program will be applied for the first 8 weeks. For group B, only exercise program will be applied therapy first 8 weeks. All assessments will be repeated before and after each therapy period. Exercise program will consist of selected balance, coordination and walking exercises according to the individual needs of patients. After 10 weeks washout period, patients will be included in the other group. All patients will take the treatment 1-hour, 3 days in a week for 8 weeks.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Clinical diagnosis of ataxia
• Ataxic patients who are able to walk 25 m independently
• Ataxic patients who had a Mini Mental Test Score of 24 points and over;

Exclusion Criteria:

• Clinical diagnosis of systemic problems (Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension)
• Clinical diagnosis of cognitive impairment
• Patients who have fallen at least once in the last 6 months
• Patients who had Berg Balance Scale score of 40 points and below