The Effectiveness of Training Using Exergaming on Selected Physical and Psychological Parameters in a Population of Patients Over the Age of 65 Belonging to Specific Subgroups of the Frailty Syndrome
The Effectiveness of Training Using Exergaming on Selected Physical and Psychological Parameters in a Population of Patients Over the Age of 65 Belonging to Specific Subgroups of the Frailty Syndrome
This study aims to evaluate the effects of a six-week exergaming-based training program on physical and psychological parameters in individuals aged 65 and older diagnosed with frailty or pre-frailty. Participants engage in supervised exergame sessions twice weekly using the Activlife rehabilitation platform, which combines physical exercises with cognitive tasks in a virtual environment. Outcomes are assessed using validated tools including the Fried Frailty Criteria, CES-D, IPAQ-SF, Katz ADL, Lawton IADL, VES-13, Tinetti Test, and Fullerton Fitness Test. Anthropometric and functional data are collected before and after the intervention.
Frailty is a clinical syndrome marked by reduced physiological reserve and increased vulnerability to adverse outcomes. Exergaming-interactive video game-based physical activity-offers a novel and potentially effective approach to counteracting physical and cognitive decline in frail older adults. While promising, existing evidence remains limited and methodologically heterogeneous.
This single-center trial investigates the effects of a six-week structured exergame training program on physical performance, functional independence, cognitive function, and mental well-being in a population of individuals aged 65+ with pre-frailty or frailty syndrome according to the Fried criteria.
Participants engage in at least 30-minute exergame-based sessions twice per week using the Activlife rehabilitation platform. The platform combines Kinect-based motion tracking with immersive therapeutic games that include physical (strength, balance, endurance) and cognitive (memory, visuospatial, logic) tasks. Sessions are supervised by a trained therapist, and game difficulty is adapted biweekly to participant capacity.
Assessments are conducted pre- and post-intervention and include: anthropometric data, frailty status (Fried criteria), depression symptoms (CES-D), physical activity (IPAQ-SF), basic and instrumental activities of daily living (Katz ADL, Lawton IADL), vulnerability (VES-13), mobility and balance (Tinetti Test), and physical fitness (Fullerton Fitness Test).
Ethical approval was obtained from the Bioethics Committee of Wroclaw Medical University (approval no. 172/2019). All participants provided written informed consent. The study adheres to the Declaration of Helsinki.
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria: