Background Wii Fit® games are widely used in the rehabilitation field due to their audiovisual feedback and motivating effect (1). Although it is well known that Wii Fit® games improve the quality of life in various groups (2, 3), there is no study on those who have undergone anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) arthroscopic surgery.

Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Wii Fit® games on pain, quality of life and lower extremity functionality after ACL reconstruction.

Methods Patients who underwent arthroscopic ACL reconstruction surgery in Kartal Dr. Lutfi Kırdar Training and Research Hospital were included in this study. Being volunteer for this study, not receiving any other treatment after surgery and being in the first 6 months after surgery were determined as inclusion criteria. Having any orthopaedic injury or congenital deformitiy and having vision, balance or neurologic problems were defined as exclusion criteria. After recording demographic data patients' pain, quality of life and lower extremity functionality were evaluated with “Visual Analog Scale (VAS)”, Anterior Cruciate Ligament Quality of Life (ACL-QoL) Scale and “Lower Extremity Functionality Scale (LEFS)”, respectively.

Patients received accelerated rehabilitation program 3 days per week, for 6 weeks. Wii Fit® games has added to accelerated program for 40 minutes in every treatment sessions in the last three weeks. Assessments were performed at the baseline 3th week and, end of the treatment. The SPSS v11.5 was used for data analysis.

Results Twelve males with a mean age of 29±8,51 years were included in this study. Their average body mass index, time between injury and surgery and time between surgery and the beginning of rehabilitation were 25,82±2,85 kg/m², 374 days and 30±42,62 days, each seperately. Pain improved significantly during the treatment (p=0.012). The quality of life level increased significantly at the end of the study compared to the 3th assessment (p=0.041). Lower extremity functionality improved during the rehabilitation (p=0.003).

Conclusions Patients participating in this study expressed Wii Fit® games as funny and easy method to utilize. Wii Fit® games are suitable for use in patients who have had ACL arthroscopic surgery.

References

1. Minyoung L, Dongwon S, Jaebum S, Jungjin K, Seon-Deok E, BumChul Y. Patient perspectives on virtual reality-based rehabilitation after knee surgery: importance of level of difficulty. Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development. 2016; 53 (2): 239–52.

2. Hammond, J., Jones, V., Hill, EL., Green, D., Male, I. An investigation of the impact of regular use of the Wii Fit to improve motor and psychosocial outcomes in children with movement difficulties: a pilot study. Child: care, health and development. 2014; 40 (2): 165–175.

3. Plow, M., Finlayson, M. Potential benefits of Nintendo Wii Fit among people with multiple sclerosis: a longitudinal pilot study. International journal of MS care. 2011; 13 (1): 21–30.

References

Disclosure of Interest None declared